Sheryl Ann Ekstrom Ratley, 71, of Normal, passed away Friday, March 14, 2025, at her home, surrounded by family.

Sheryl was born on June 23, 1953, in Miami, Arizona as the second of four children of Floyd Ekstrom and Elsye Layton Ekstrom. When she was a toddler, the family moved to Riverside, California. Sheryl's childhood was filled with wonderful experiences of exploring the deserts and mountains of Southern California and Arizona with her family. After high school graduation, she attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where she met and married David Ratley. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2024.

Sheryl spent her life as a pastor's wife in churches in Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida, and Bloomington, Illinois, and had many titles – teacher, nursery worker, cleaning crew, decorator and event organizer, just to name a few, but her favorite titles were Mom and Iya.

As a young girl, Sheryl accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and on March 14, 2025, in Normal, Illinois, her faith became sight as she stepped into Heaven and met Jesus face to face. We rejoice that she is now pain free and that we know we will spend eternity together in Heaven with her.

Sheryl was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Elsye Ekstrom and her sister Mary Underwood.

She is survived by her husband David S. Ratley of Normal, Illinois; children April (Everett) Lacroix of Kaiserslautern, Germany; Bo (Katy) Ratley of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Becky (David) Kreitzer of Normal, Illinois; grandchildren Alyssa and Bryce Lacroix, Audrey and Logan Ratley, Maddy, Evan and Charlee Kreitzer, and Jack, Hank, Luke, and Margo Ratley; siblings Terri Sturdivan of Menifee, California and Joe (Jennifer) Ekstrom of Riverside, California; and many nieces and nephews.

She leaves behind a wonderful legacy of a wife, mom, grandmother, sister, and friend who was greatly loved.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025, from the graveside in the Hutcheson Family Cemetery, Soperton, Georgia.

Serving as her pallbearers will be:  Bo Ratley, Everett LaCroix, David Kreitser, Bryce LaCroix, Logan Ratley and Mike Ratley.

Her family will receive friends, on Friday, at the gravesite.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Baptist Church, 804 N. Center St., Bloomington, IL 61701.

Please share a memory, leave a condolence message and sign the online guest register at www.sammonsfuneralhome.com

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, Family Owned and Operated Since 1917, 912-529-4411 or 478-455-0671