Sherman William McKissock — 1922-2016
Sherman William McKissock
Former South Shore resident Sherman William McKissock died Aug. 29, 2016. He was 94.
Sherman was born Jan. 27, 1922, in Richmond, Ky., to Coy and Eleanor Wilcox Agee.
In his early years Sherman was raised by his grandparents in Fort Smith, Ark., and St. Louis. His mother took over his care at the age of 12 in Alameda. He was adopted by his stepfather and began his life as Sherman (Sherm) McKissock.
Sherman met his future wife, Dorothy, in grammar school when she was 9 and he was 12. The were married for 72 years. Dorothy’s brother, Earl Peck, was Sherm’s best friend. Sherm thought of Dorothy as a pest until she turned 15. After their first date, Dorothy told her brother that Sherm “was it” and the rest is history. They became engaged and married in Baltimore during World War II in 1943.
They had six children: Lynda McDowell, Gordon McKissock (deceased), Marge Glaser, Jeanette Grubbs, Marianne Johnston and William McKissock; along with their 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
After high school Sherm went to work at a bank. He eventually became a vice president of Wells Fargo Bank.
When World War II broke out Sherm wanted to be a pilot. After taking an eye exam he found out he was color blind. The Merchant Marines accepted him. He went to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., in the engineer program. He eventually received his 2nd engineers license. His home port was Naples, Italy. When in Okinawa his ship was targeted by kamikazes and he was one of the lucky ones to make it home. Sherm was very patriotic and had such a love for country.
In 1945 Sherm and Dorothy along with Dorothy’s brother, Earl, bought some property on Sierra Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe. The three had some cottages built and rented them out in the summer.
After the war Sherm returned to banking in the Bay Area. In 1963 the family moved from Alameda to South Lake Tahoe for him to open the first Wells Fargo bank. He was the bank manager.
He was very active in the community and was part of a task force committee to look at the pros and cons of South Tahoe becoming a city. He was active in the South Tahoe Rotary Club and the chamber of commerce, having served as president in both organizations. He sketched the first logo for the chamber which was used for many years. Sherm served on the Citizens Committee Research for the future Lake Tahoe Community College. In March 2015, Sherm received an honorary lifetime membership with the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce.
Sherm was an elder in the Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church and the church treasurer for many years. He was a director of the Barton Hospital board and volunteered at the hospital to stay current on the goings on at the hospital. He and Dorothy volunteered to serve at Bread & Broth for many years. Sherm loved to play golf and bridge.
In 1968 Wells Fargo asked Sherm to move to San Fernando Valley to open new branches in the area. To get his wife to leave her beloved Lake Tahoe, Sherm promised a swimming pool, but soon found heavy equipment was unable to get to the back of the new home. He took matters in his own hands and began to dig, one shovel full at a time, a pool for the family. This project took one full year (after work and weekends). He continued his community service by serving as president of the Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce in 1968 and president of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce in 1971. He served as treasurer in the Woodland Hills Rotary Club and treasurer for the San Fernando Valley Industrial Association.
After retiring from Wells Fargo, Sherm returned to South Lake Tahoe in 1978 and became the manager of the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce. Eventually he was encouraged to re-enter the banking business, this time in Stateline as vice president and manager with First Interstate Bank, which eventually became Wells Fargo Bank.
After nearly 44 years in the banking business Sherman retired. While living in Stateline, Sherm became involved in politics and eventually became chairman of the Douglas County Republican Central Committee.
He was appointed to the Douglas County Board of Equalization.
Sherm and Dorothy moved from Stateline to Escondido, California in 2004 into Champagne Village at the Lawrence Welk Resort to live closer to three of their children.
In 2014, the couple moved again, this time to Minden, to be closer to their family and beloved Lake Tahoe. Sherm enjoyed the friendliness of the people of the Carson Valley and he and Dorothy became members of the Carson Valley United Methodist church.
Sherm is survived by his wife Dorothy; brothers Jim McKissock (Kathy) of El Cerrito, Harold Agee (Nel) of Richmond, Ky., and Marvin Agee of Richmond, Ky.; sister Helen Agee Hacker of Richmond, Ky; children Lynda McDowell (Robert) of Gardnerville, Marge Glaser (Steve) of Gardnerville, Jeanette Grubbs (John) of Bend, Ore., Marianne Johnston (Stan) of Escondido, and William McKissock of Round Hill; grandchildren Kevin Kjer (Kristy) of Stateline, Kirsten Kjer Jobb of Brentwood, Karyn Kjer Clay (John) of Waimea, Hawaii, Robert McKissock of Desert Hot Springs, Ian McKissock of South Lake Tahoe, Joline McKissock Welch (Josh) of South Lake Tahoe, Jamie McKissock Spears (Ramen) of Valley Springs, Sean Glaser (Marissa) of Escondido, Alyson Glaser Ritz of Las Vegas, Heather Grubbs Smith (Robert) of Bend, Ore., Tiffany Grubbs Hernandez (Chris) of Bend, Ore., Justin Johnston (Jennifer) of Oceanside, Kylene McKissock of Truckee, Jared McKissock of Petaluma; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.
Sherm was predeceased by his parents, Coy Agee and Eleanor Agee McKissock, stepfather Charles (Mac) McKissock, son Gordon McKissock and granddaughter Christy Glaser.
There will be a celebration of life on Sept. 18 from 11am-3pm at the home of daughter Marge and son-in-law Steve Glaser. RSVP to Lynda McDowell — 775.392.1234.