Calvin Kern Sheridan

Calvin Kern Sheridan, 86, passed away on Monday, June 4th, 2012 in Sandpoint, Idaho. Cal was born in the California mining town of Lancha Plana on September 5th, 1925 to Katherine Ann and Phillip Joseph Sheridan. He was the third youngest of thirteen siblings, having six sisters and six brothers. After his father died from a freak accident when Cal was just five, Katherine continued to raise her children in the fertile agricultural California valley town of Lodi, where at the age of sixteen Cal met the girl he knew that he would one day marry, Etta Jean Abbott. In March of 1943 during his senior year of high school, Cal enlisted in the Navy. All six of his brothers were already in active duty in various branches of the military as our country was in the midst of WWII. After boot camp at the Farragut Naval Training Center in Athol, Idaho, Cal was entitled to ten days leave, but he did not have the funds to get back to California. Between his buddies they managed to collect enough to send him home where Cal was able to graduate with his senior class at Lodi High School that same year. During the war years the high school considered service time the same as school time. Later he wrote in his personal journal, “I am always grateful as it brought me back to Lodi, graduation with my class, and Jean.” During the war years Cal served on the aircraft carrier the USS Monticello, and later, the USS F.D. Roosevelt although he had always wanted to serve on the battleship, the USS Missouri. Cal and Jean were married in 1948 and resided in Lodi where Cal continued his education at Humphrey College in Stockton majoring in business while working full time as a phych tech at the Stockton State Hospital. Later, Cal worked as a Nursing Supervisor at the Atascadero State Hospital in California until his retirement in 1988. Cal enjoyed many outdoor activities with his family and any others who loved to join in on the fun. He even braved the infamous Rubicon, four wheelin’ with his son Tom and brother-in-law, Jim Stone. Cal had an extensive collection of pre-cancelled stamps, originating a systematic way of collecting and organizing them. He proceeded to write the book of pre-cancelled collecting which identified all of the individual towns and identifying the unique styles of every town in the US. Other collectors saw the significance of his unique method and adopted his methods for their own collections. Cal was preceded in death in 1999 by his wife of 51 years, Etta Jean. He is survived by his son Tom Sheridan (Michaelle) of Modesto, California and his daughter Carrie Jean Davis (John) of Des Moines, New Mexico. Two granddaughters, Stephanie Ann Davis of Sandpoint, Idaho and Lyndie Ann Sheridan of Sonora, California; two great granddaughters, Dannah Salinas of Sandpoint, Idaho and Mariah Salinas of Sonora, California, and one great great granddaughter, Aryah Elise Freibott, born just one year ago to Dannah Salinas and Joel Friebott and whom Cal affectionately referred to as his “Little Buddy.” Two siblings also survive Cal, his brother William Sheridan (Francilina) of Modesto, California, and his sister, Florence Vidas (Jerry) of Nevada, plus numerous nieces and nephews. Cal leaves behind a legacy of love for his family and for God that has bound our hearts together until we all meet again on that Resurrection Morning. Until that day Cal rests along side his wife, Etta Jean, in the Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi, California. The family is planning a memorial service to be announced at a later time.