John Vinson Cherry made his way home to his Heavenly Savior on October 26, 2020. John was born on January 26, 1956, at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. to US Air Force Sgt. Joel Lee Cherry and Martha Ann Vincent. He was raised growing up as a traveling military family spending his childhood in El Paso, Texas, and Springfield, Missouri later graduating a proud Viking from Parkview High School in 1974. Soon after, in 1979, Mr. Cherry moved his family to the Texoma area. He worked as a sheet metal fabricator and then as a security officer at L.O.F. and Midway Mall. It was during that time that he found his passion for serving and protecting his community.
Mr. Cherry graduated from the Texoma Regional Police Academy in October 1988. He began his law enforcement career serving the cities of Sherman, Pottsboro, and Denison before finding his home at the Howe Police Department in 1992. During his 20 years of service to the City of Howe, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of Police in 2005 until he medically retired in December 2012. Some of his proud accomplishments were obtaining his Master Peace Officer License and attending the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, facilitating grants for many of the police department training, equipment, and community Texoma National Night Events, and mentoring officers. Mr. Cherry loved being a Police Officer. It was his calling in life and his way to minister to those in need for over 23 1/2 years.
When not in uniform, Mr. Cherry still found ways to serve his community through Texoma Emmaus, Boy Scouts of America, and his local church. Over the years, he was an active member of Christ Church Cathedral in Sherman, First United Methodist Church of Howe, and Community Bible Fellowship in Howe. Later in life his love of God, ancient church history, and theology allowed him to briefly attend seminary, he then went on to become a North Texas United Methodist Registered Lay Speaker. In 2006, John attended the Texoma Emmaus Walk #54 and later served as Lay Director on Walk #88. It was his honor to minister that weekend through one of his favorite scriptures “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called “Sons of God” Matthew 5:9. He has many reunion brothers but especially the friendship grateful for Brian Gaskill, David Buechler, Bruce Evans. For many years, he served as the Troop 45 Scouting Charter Organization Representative, Religious Emblem Coordinator, Texoma Valley District Commissioner, Youth Protection Training Officer, during that time he earned the TVD Unit Award of Merit, and attended WoodBadge Leadership Training. He also throughout his life enjoyed coaching his children’s sports teams, bowling and even winning tournaments at the championship levels, playing adult league softball, playing the drums for relaxation, and in church when needed, he enjoyed listening to classic rock and was a woodcarver.
Mr. Cherry was proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents Roy and Vivian Vinson, paternal grandparents Warren and Doreen Cherry, parents Joel and Martha Cherry, and sister Barbara Fretwell.
He is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Samuel Cherry and fiancé Kaylee Dwyer, daughter Sophie Cherry all of Howe, TX. Son Timothy Cherry, daughter Christine Cherry and their mother Debbie Crabtree of Sherman, TX. Daughter Sarah Warren and husband Michael of Sherman, TX. Sister Shannon Hicks of Denison, TX. In-laws-in-love Mike and Nelda Edwards of Sherman, TX. Brothers-in-law Eddie Moore of Houston, TX, Steve Moore of Rosharon, TX, Tim and wife Angela Berry of Mounds, OK, Chris and wife Sharon Edwards of Saginaw, TX. Along with numerous nieces, nephews, numerous friends especially childhood friend Skip Steiger and his Brothers and Sisters in Blue.
Memorial Service will be held at Community Bible Fellowship Church in Howe on Saturday, November 7, 2020, at 11:00 AM with Jesse Farrer, Jeremy Moore, and Tom Medley officiating. Family and friend’s visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, November 6 at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne. The family would like to invite all to attend a fellowship meal immediately following. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Vinson Cherry please visit our Tribute Store.