In loving memory of
Sherill DeVon Hanks
October 18, 2010
Sherrill DeVon Hanks, age 85, formerly of Quincy, died Monday (Oct 18, 2010) in Owens Crossroads, AL.
He was born September 19, 1925 in Kane, IL the son of John and Mildred Turner Hanks. On May 19, 1950 he married Sondra Lee Voss in Alton, IL. She preceded him in death on April 5, 2007.
Sherrill was a 1943 graduate of East Alton-Wood River High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946 achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Shurtleff College in Alton in 1949 and his Master of Arts Degree in Education from Washington University in 1951.
Sherrill coached basketball at Shurtleff College and Alton High School before coming to Quincy in 1960 as athletic director and basketball coach. In 15 years at QHS he lead teams to two second place and one third place finish, won at least 20 games each season, and left as the winningest coach in school history. He moved to Quincy College in 1975 as athletic director and coach, and guided the Hawks to a third place finish in the NAIA. He is the second winningest coach in Quincy College history. He holds the IHSA record for consecutive 20 win seasons with 17, and overall coached 22 straight 20 win seasons. In 34 seasons as a head coach, he had a record of 730-258.
Sherrill was one of the founders of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Assication and founded the QHS Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament which is in its 40th season this year. He was a charter member of the IBCA Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Quincy High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
Survivors include: a son - John Michael 'Mike' (Sonya Burttram) Hanks of Huntsville, AL; daughter - Krisna Lee (Robert Surenbrock) Hanks of Emeryville, CA; 6 grandchildren, John Sherrill (Chantal Hutchens) Hanks, of San Francisco, CA; James Paul (Dana McCuddeon) Hanks of Tampa, FL and their children Savannah Michelle, Harlan John and Hayden Edward; Suzanne Michelle (Matt Allegre) Hanks, of Orlando, FL; Alexis Lee Hanks of Tuscaloosa, AL; and Blake North and Samuel Quentin Hanks of Huntsville, AL; 2 sisters - JoAnn Vigano of St. Louis, MO, Carol Tweedy of Wood River, IL; and a brother - Gary Hanks of Katy, TX
In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Eugene and Reginald Hanks, and two sisters, LaVerne Holtman and Virginia Fines.
Memorial Service: 11:00 AM Friday at Quincy University Chapel, with Rev. James Wheeler, OFM officiating. A reception will follow in Friar's Hall.
Memorials: Quincy Public Schools Foundation for the Hanks Circle of Excellence (QPSF) or the Hanks Scholarship at Quincy University (QU).
www.hansenspear.com.
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.