Cynthia Sherrill Thomas Hansen, RN

Cynthia Sherrill Thomas Hansen died on February 12, 2026 at the age of 84 in her home in Kaysville, Utah, surrounded by her greatest treasure: her family. A steel magnolia, Cynthia was born on March 27, 1941, in Houston, Texas, to John Guy Sherrill, Jr. and Pauline Stephens. She was the eldest child of their three children with younger siblings, Joel and Sherrie. Cynthia fondly remembered being raised in Houston, including as one of the Houstonian LDS pioneers as a member with her Stephens family (among whom were her grandparents and her mother) in the first LDS branch in Houston of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“LDS”), which during Mom’s time there was first known as the Avenue N Branch of the Gulf States Mission.

Cynthia was valiant in the testimony of Jesus, and she loved her Savior. Her early childhood experiences and gospel devotion included worshipping with her formerly Southern Baptist Stephens grandparents. Beginning in her teenage years, following the path of other members of her family, Cynthia was baptized in and then became a lifelong, dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has said more than once: “I’m thankful for my inner Baptist.” She had a knowledge of and love for Jesus independent of her participation in any one religion.

Cynthia graduated from Stephen F. Austin Senior High School in Houston, then from the University of Houston’s Hermann Hospital School of Nursing. She took a leap of faith and moved from Houston to Salt Lake City, Utah to work as a nurse at LDS Hospital upon accepting the invitation of her family’s friend, L. Brent Goates, Hospital Administrator. Once there, Goates felt impressed that Nurse Sherrill and one of the hospital’s physicians, Dr. Gary Thomas, should get to know one another. He said to Cynthia that he felt this was “a match made in heaven.” Gary and Cynthia met, fell in love, and were married in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 14, 1963. As her stewardships increased, Cynthia also became affectionately known as “Cindy,” of course “Mom,” but especially, “Grandy.”

After stints living in Philadelphia and Salt Lake City, Gary and Cindy made their home and established roots in Idaho Falls, Idaho, near Shelley, where Gary was raised. Over these years, Cynthia bore and raised six sons – Mark Merchant (1965); Scott Stephens (1967); David Timothy (1968); Courtney Kenneth (1972); Benjamin John (1975); and Joshua Pate (1977) – each of them gifted and special in his own right and who only collectively are as multi-faceted as she. Armed with her knowledge of and love for her Savior Jesus Christ and the ideals of Scouting, all of which she greatly exemplified, Mom taught her sons principles of righteousness and good citizenry and championed the moral agency they had to govern themselves. After 30 years of marriage, Gary and Cindy parted ways in 1992.

A decade later, on April 7, 2001, Cindy married Kim André Hansen in Salt Lake City. Cindy, in years past while in Idaho Falls, had come to know fellow Scouters Kim and his first wife Linn, serving with them in Scouting and becoming dear friends. When Linn was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, Cindy provided gentle nursing care and comforting convalescence for Linn before she passed away in 2000. In the midst of Kim’s grieving for Linn after her passing, Cindy had reached out to offer comfort to Kim, and soon that friendship developed into a deep love for one another. Cynthia and Kim first lived in Idaho Falls and upon Kim’s retirement from Scouting then moved to St. George, UT in 2006, living there until Kim’s death in 2023.

Cindy was gifted in music and musicianship and livening things up with her great and exuberant spirit as she played and sang with the autoharp as well as playing piano and organ; she taught her sons the love of music; and they grew up playing several instruments. She taught them service, including in Scouting; and she taught them a zest for learning.

Cindy was generous, kind, and caring in all her selfless service. When together with Gary and then with Kim, Cindy dedicated much of her time, talent, and service to her sons and grandsons and many others in Scouting, principally through LDS Scout Troops. Her stewardships in LDS Scouting callings included service as Cubmaster and as Rank Advancement Chairperson; she was a graduate of the Wood Badge adult leadership training; was instrumental in leading regional Scouting events; and did yearly fundraising efforts for the local council of the Boy Scouts. Cindy also helped her sons in Scouting, and she sent her sons and some grandsons to, or otherwise participated with some of them and other Scouts at, several National Scout Jamborees. For her many years of leadership and extraordinary service in Scouting, Cindy was awarded the prestigious Silver Beaver.

Cindy gave over 50 years of service in Nursing. During the end of her nursing career, she served in both St. George and in Idaho Falls. While working in Idaho Falls, she served for years in behavioral health, and perhaps her most significant stewardship was as House Supervisor at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. For a few weeks while in her prime, Cindy cherished serving a medical mission to India, where she served in the leper colony founded by Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity.

Cynthia was fiercely devoted to Jesus and to those whom she loved. As Grandy continued teaching and encouraging principles of righteousness and good citizenry to her grandchildren. And Grandy loved – and loves – her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent countless hours brightening their lives and having great joy and rejoicing in her magnificent posterity.

Cynthia is survived by her six sons, Mark (Terri) of Rigby, ID; Scott (Robin) of Dumfries, VA; Tim (Patricia) of Kaysville, UT; Courtney (Susan) of Twin Falls, ID; BJ (Sunny) of Lehi, UT; and Josh of Tremonton, UT; cousin-“son,” J Jeff Giboney (Colleen) of Island Park, ID; four step-children, Jess (Shanna) Hansen of Taylorsville, UT; Ryan (Becca) Hansen of Rexburg, ID; Andy (Katie) Hansen of Clinton, UT; and Cynthia Marie (“CJ”) Hansen of Taylorsville, UT; 36 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren with more on the way. She is also survived by her younger brother, Joel Stephen Sherrill of St. George, UT; and her younger sister and fellow nurse, Sherrie Sherrill Peterson (Michelle) of Mexico City, Mexico, along with extended family.

Cynthia was preceded in death by many loved ones (and their spouses), including her second husband, Kim André Hansen, and his first wife Linn Marie Tonks Hansen; father, John Guy Sherrill, Jr., and step-mother, Frances Davis Sherrill; mother, Pauline Stephens Sherrill Lillywhite, and step-father, Jesse Lillywhite; paternal grandparents, John Guy Sherrill, Sr., and Lois Heavenhill Sherrill (“Maw Maw”); paternal uncle, William Heavenhill Sherrill (“Uncle Green Turkey”); maternal grandparents, Virgil Lee Stephens and Callie Catherine Pate Stephens; maternal aunt, Frances Rae Stephens James, and her husband Virgil Albert James; maternal first cousin’s husband, Bill Royce Linder (Nancy Kathryn James, living); and her maternal first cousin, Stephen Virgil James, his wife Vicki Lorraine Adams James, and their son and her cousin John Virgil James (Melody, living).

Funeral services will be held Friday February 20, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaysville 4th Ward, 800 E. 200 N., Kaysville, Utah. Family and friends may visit Thursday February 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main St., Kaysville, Utah and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church prior to the service.

The services will be broadcast via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82502143579?pwd=Y2RaenAyZTYxSTNDVHBHVXVWTTNCdz09; Meeting ID: 825 0214 3579; Passcode: 4th).

Interment will take place at the Lincoln Cemetery, 2508 E. Lincoln Rd, Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Cindy will be interred alongside her second husband Kim and his first wife Linn.

The family would like to thank the staff at Aspire Home Health and Hospice and the many extended family and friends who have reached out to Grandy and the family during her final days.

Cynthia’s son Scott in the coming months will be preparing a book of remembrance. If you would like a copy (or to otherwise contribute special memories of Cynthia), please email him at: ScottSThomas67@gmail.com.