September 20, 1946 - August 28, 2023
Sherry was the beloved wife of the late Thomas A Johnston who died on April 25, 2014: She was born in Stratford, Ontario and returned to Stratford in 2012 after a long journey. Her parents were the late Goldwin and Florence Yundt (Phillips).
She was raised in Stratford and went to Hamlet Public School and Stratford Central Secondary School. Sherry received an Honours B.A. in Geography (University of Guelph) and an M.A. in Geography (University of Waterloo). She was a Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying U.K. She spent her career in various positions related to the aggregate industry. Starting as a Geological Assistant in the Ontario Department of Mines, moving to England as Assistant Secretary of Planning in London for the Sand and Gravel Association and back to Canada as a Planning Consultant for Proctor & Redfern Limited.
She then returned to the Ontario Government, Ministry of Natural Resources and was in various positions until Director, Land Management Branch. Sherry then was Executive Co-Ordinator of Economic Policy in the Cabinet Office. She left the Government and set up a consulting business S. E. Yundt Limited in 1989 and consulted for the aggregate industry, all levels of government and associations until 2018. She was an Associate Member of the Ontario Stone Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA) for many years and a Member of the Rehabilitation Committee for 25 years. Upon retirement she was made an Honorary Life Member of the OSSGA.
She was very involved with the Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) on the Board of Directors for many years and as President and received several awards from the CLRA. Sherry presented and published scores of papers on aggregate resources, the aggregate industry and pit and quarry rehabilitation. She was also an avid photographer and had many photographs published in technical magazines over the years. She was a devoted reader, theatre and concert goer and visitor to art galleries and museums around the world.
Her husband Tom was a pilot and as a geographer Sherry and Tom travelled worldwide from circumnavigating the world in 2005, to many cruises and river boat trips. They also spent a lot of holidays in cottages, houses and villas in England, France, Scotland, Italy, Ireland and Hawaii. They enjoyed life and travelled in style, something the darkness could never take away from them.
Predeceased by her brother Ronald of Stratford. Survived by brother Raymond Waterloo, sister-in-law Carolyn Stratford, niece Vanessa (Andrew & Catherine) Waterloo and nephew Dean (Margie, Lorie & D) Guelph. Special friends Sarah Lowe (Guelph), Betty McCracken (Melbourne), Jocelyn Wellington (London) and the late Raili Charnesky (Toronto). A shout-out to Cousin Karen Roberts for all her perseverance and assistance. To Deanne Dolton, Jan Little, Jeremy Slater and Shelly Paulocik for all their assistance and support. Many other relatives, cousins, friends and colleagues in Canada and England.
"Little Gidding"
T. S. Eliot Four Quartets
"We shall not cease from exploration,
and the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started,
and know the place for the first time."
Visitation at the W. G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Tuesday September 5, 2023, from 10am until time of the funeral service at 11am.
A private interment will take place at Avondale Cemetery, Stratford where Sherry will join Tom.
Donations to Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth or a charity of your choice can be made through the funeral home website. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
