Katharine Sue (Byers) Sherwood, 89, of Springfield, Illinois, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 6, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Katharine (Kay) was born February 2, 1937, in Hale Township, Missouri, to Hugh and Dulcie (Godsey) Byers. She was the youngest of ten children. Kay graduated from Dallas City High School in 1954 and married Fred Sherwood on August 14, 1956.

The couple first moved to Maquon, Illinois, where Fred taught school and Kay began working for Butler Grain Bin Manufacturing. They later returned to Dallas City, Illinois, where Fred continued teaching and Kay worked at the Shaffer Pen Company alongside two of her sisters, Norma Brandon and Nell Mutter.

In 1962, Kay and Fred adopted their daughter, Denise. During this time, Kay became a stay-at-home mother for several years before she and her sister, Willa Covert, returned to school at Western Illinois University. Together they earned their bachelor's degrees in elementary education, becoming the first two women in their immediate family to earn college degrees.

On October 3, 1970, Kay and Fred welcomed their son, Rase. Kay began her teaching career in 1971 at BALYKI School District, where she taught kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade. After the 1991–1992 school year, Kay joined the Havana School District, teaching both kindergarten and early childhood programs. During this time, she returned to college and earned her master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education. She concluded her career working in the special education department of the Havana, Illinois, school system.

For Kay and Fred, retirement meant winters in Florida and summers in Illinois. In their later years, they moved to Springfield, Illinois, to be closer to their children and grandchildren, who brought them great joy. Kay and Fred especially loved cheering on their grandchildren at basketball and baseball games and watching their son, Rase, coach those teams. As devoted grandparents, they attended as many school and sporting events as possible, taking great pride in supporting their grandchildren, Kaytlin and Rase Jr. Kay's greatest joy in life was her family, and the love she gave them will remain with them always.

Kay is survived by her daughter, Denise Sherwood of Atlanta, Missouri; her son, Rase (Amy) Sherwood of Springfield, Illinois; grandchildren, Kaytlin Sherwood and Rase Sherwood Jr. of Springfield, Illinois; sister, Norma Brandon of Springfield, Illinois; brother-in-law, Everett Cox (Bonita) of Sanford, North Carolina; and many special nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Dulcie Byers; her husband, Fred Sherwood; sisters and their husbands, Beaulah (LaVerne) Pence, Jenette (Raymond) Pence, Hughetta (Keith) Hull, Beryl (Carl) Colliver, Frances (John) Petersen, Nell (Harry) Mutter, and Willa (Duane) Covert; brother, Dale (Marjorie) Bunch; brother-in-law, Richard Brandon; and nephews, Michael Brandon and Bill Mutter.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City, Illinois.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Dallas City Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established for the Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer Association. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit Mrs. Sherwood's obituary at banksandbeals.com.