Sherwell Dean Aper

Sherwell Dean Draper, 80 years of age, from Grapevine, TX, returned home peacefully to the Lord
on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 at 3:03 in the afternoon, surrounded by his loving family.

Sherwell was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn and Clitis Draper, brother Pat and sister
Sonoma Draper, son-in-law Brent Stogsdill, sister-in-law Birdie Draper and brother-in-law Alex Dunn.

As a boy, Sherwell was active in Boy Scouts where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He
graduated in 1955 from Galena Park High School where he was on the Cheerleading Squad. He was also a cheerleader at Lon Morris Jr. College before attending the University of Houston.
Sherwell was very artistically creative and a “standup comic,” even if only in his own mind! He had a beautiful tenor voice and did a great deal of solo work during his singing career in addition to singing in the church choir all his life. Sherwell was well known for his pranks and his really bad jokes, you could not help but laugh, due to the fact that he was laughing so hard before he got to the punchline.

Sherwell had a very successful career with IBM. During his earlier years he worked on all Apollo and Gemini Missions at the NASA Manned Space Craft Center in Houston; one of the more famous was “Apollo 13”. In each mission, he maintained a 24-hour systems coverage for the manned space flights. He also had the privilege of meeting several dignitaries who toured NASA, including Prince Charles and the famous German rocket Scientist, Wernher Von Braun. He then moved to Austin and later to Grapevine where he worked with IBM's Real Estate Group.

After retiring from IBM, Sherwell began his “second career” at The Home Depot in 1994. This
provided a whole new resource of people he could serve and torture with his corny jokes. He finally retired “for real” on December 31, 2014. Sherwell and Carol spent their retirement days doing projects around their home and enjoying their RV on the shores of Lake Lewisville.

Sherwell is survived by his loving wife, Carol McKenzie Draper; his daughters Michele Draper
Stogsdill, Deana Draper Morgan and son-n-law Mit Morgan; as well as his grandchildren Sabrina and McKenzie Morgan, Brian and Chrissy Stogsdill and her husband Jon Collins, and great-grandchild, Grady Collins. He is also survived by his twin brother Don Draper and wife Gaylene, and brothers Henry Draper, Mickey Draper and wife Susan, and last but not least, his beautiful and truly talented one-of-a-kind sister, Sonja Draper Dunn along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and loving friends.

Sherwell will be best remembered for his love for the Lord, his warm servant heart and his
constant smile.

The family will be having a Memorial Service in his honor at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at Gateway Church - North Richland Hills Campus, 7501 Davis Blvd., North Richland Hills, TX 76182.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested contributions to the widow's fund for his wife Carol. Contributions can be sent to:

WIDOWS AND ORPHANS
8950 Clay Hibbins
Keller, Texas 76248

Here are their guidelines for making donations:

• Checks are the only way to make contributions
• Contributions are tax-deductible
• Checks should be payable to “Widows and Orphans”
• DO NOT put “Miller Family” on the check itself
• INSTEAD, attach a note which designates the funds for “Carol Draper”
• For additional information, you may contact (817) 427-3300 or request it by mail at the address above.
• Funds will be distributed to cover future, qualifying living expenses; funds can be contributed now or at any time in the future.