Jean Rollin Sherrard

Jean Rollin Sherrard

April 29, 1933 – August 30, 2020

Jean Rollin Sherrard, 87, of Poulsbo, Washington, passed away on August 30th. He passed away peacefully while surrounded by family.

Jean was preceded in death by his mother, Marian Althea Sherrard; his father, Jean Howard Sherrard; his brother, Donald Sherrard; and by his wife, Alyce Lillian (Larson) Sherrard. He is survived by his daughter Beth; his daughter Linnea and his son-in-law Clifford; his son, Andrew, his daughter-in-law, Michele; and five grandchildren – Bryce, Reese, Brock, Drew & Jensen. He is also survived by his younger brothers Jerry and Roger Sherrard.

Jean was raised on Queen Anne and later in Des Moines, Washington. Always gregarious and curious, Jean was full of adventure. As a toddler, he won a Sears & Roebuck baby photo contest. In childhood, he convinced the city bus driver to let him ride the route for free, all day. During the depression he asked his father if he could throw a rock through the window, and he received an absent minded “Yes” from his Dad. Of course, Jean threw the rock and didn’t get in trouble. As a teenager he took a car engine apart to see how the motor worked. After he could legally drive, he memorized the schedule of late-night flights – sliding out a lower house window, starting the car and rolling down a back road with the noise of the planes covering his escape. Perhaps in response, the family soon had a Jersey cow that only he could milk.

He loved playing football and played guard for Rainer High School. After graduation he attended Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington and continued playing ball. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Upon returning home he attended the University of Washington and the UW School of Law. After passing the bar he worked as an attorney in Seattle for the State of Washington. He was married to Alyce in 1957, and they moved to Poulsbo in the early 60’s to be near her parents and to raise a family. They had three children, Beth, Linnea and Andrew and raised them at their waterfront home on Agate Pass.

Jean loved to start things. He helped found Bainbridge Bible Chapel. Jean also founded the law firm of Sherrard & McGonagle and worked there as an attorney until he stopped practicing in 1992. Jean and Alyce founded Reliable Storage in 1981 and grew it to 7 sites serving thousands of customers across Kitsap County. He founded Kitsap Property Owners (KAPO) and was active in local politics. He was always imagining what could be and wasn’t bound by what currently existed. He loved to walk potential new property and watch the progress of dirt work at a build site or to reimagine his own front yard.

Jean taught his children the value of hard work, usually by demanding chores all day on Saturday. He passed on his incredible work ethic to his children. When he wasn’t working, Jean was very active and ‘didn’t let the grass grow under his feet’. He enjoyed many days on the beach, sailing in front of the house and road trips across the state towing the family boat. He jogged, he biked, and he swam. He built floating rafts and barges, decks and a tree house. He cut his own Christmas tree every year, bucked up fallen logs for neighbors and cleared land for a horse corral. He loved spending time with family and friends and was especially close with his brothers and their families. He and Alyce hosted many holidays and family gatherings: countless Christmas, 4th of July and Thanksgivings that will long be remembered. Just like those gatherings, he will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local chapter of Youth For Christ in Jean’s honor.