Charles Franklin Sherrell

Charles Franklin Sherrell, age79, of Newport, TN, died at 8:00 pm, Sunday, December 31, 2006, Morristown-Hamblen Hospital, Morristown, Tennessee. Charles was born in Muncie, Indiana to the late, OvaBelle Fuller-Baker Sherrell and Comer L. Sherrell, and resided in Muncie, Indiana until 1989, when he moved his wife to Newport, Tennessee. He Married Marcia Elaine (Botkin) Hall on May 31, 1969. Charles graduated from Muncie Central High School and The John Herron Art School, Indianapolis, Indiana, and also studied with Hill Sharp, a renowned Indiana Portrait and Artist. Charles was a member of the Elks, The Moose, The Rotary Club and the Downtown Businessmen's Council. Charles created and designed the Maplewood Golf Course in Muncie, Indiana. Charles started working at Ball Stores at 16 years of age while still in High School. He became the display manager and went in to store department design for seven Ball Store locations. Charles brought the first animated store window displays to Muncie in the mid 1950'S. Charles won many national awards for his window displays. Charles gave display and design lectures at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, as a guest speaker. He was the foremost expert in Central Indiana, for Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco Glass and Pottery and all styles of furniture and objects of art. Charles also served as buyer for the furniture division and for the gift shop at Ball Stores. He was promoted to Assistant Display Manager in 1952 and was later promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Ball Store operations. Charles retired from the Ball Stores in 1989. Because of his dedicated interest in art Charles located in New York City and was instrumental in the purchase from the Geraldine R. Dodge Estate, of the "Passing of the Buffalo" by Cyrus Dallin. The one and a half times, life size bronze statue is on display at Minitrista Art Central in Muncie. Charles also designed stage sets for the Muncie Civic Theater including the play " Harvey " and " About George Apley ". Charles was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Newport. He was a member of the Smoky Mountain Country Club with his wife. Charles was a four time Senior Golf Champion at the Smoky Mountain Country Club. Survived by sons Kirk E.and Bobbie Dale (Hightower) Hall of Atlanta Georgia, Steven N. and Sally M. Hughes Sherrell of Oswego Illinois Douglas R.and Julianne K. (Larson) Sherrell, Aurora, Illinois, David A. and Marsha K. (Daniel) Sherrell, Farmland, Indiana; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer Ann (Sherrell) and Justin E. Gillespie, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Ten grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church of Newport followed by the funeral services at 8:00 pm, with Rev. Calvin Metcalf officiating. Burial will be 10:00 am, Thursday, January 4, 2007 in Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be sent to Stokely Memorial Library, 383 E. Broadway, Newport, TN, 37821.

Charles Franklin Sherrell

October 9, 1927 - December 31, 2006