Sherry Kay Gore

Sherry Kay Gore, 83, of Indianapolis, IN, passed away July 5, 2021. Sherry was born April l6, 1938, to the late Henry A. and Geniece (Weil) Holland in Chicago, IL. She moved to Evanston, IL with her family as a young girl and relocated to Indianapolis in 1949 when her father was transferred with the Western Electric Company.

Education and dedication to the under-resourced were the priorities of her life. She was a dedicated social worker and is remembered as a caring counselor, a friend to many, a skilled social therapist and advocate for justice. Her professional life ran the gamut of social work activity including roles as a Psychotherapist with the Veterans Administration Mental Hygiene Clinic (Indianapolis); Caseworker for the Marion County (IN) Association for Retarded Children; she served children with special health care needs at the Indiana Department of Public Welfare, holding a variety of counseling and supervisory positions. She became a skilled Medicaid consultant. She served as a skilled therapist at the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility, accepting people where they were in an often tough environment. Lives were improved through her efforts. Following retirement she served in the assessment of Emergency Department commitments on an on-call basis at St. Vincent (Indianapolis) Hospital and the Howard County Regional Health System. Her lasting contribution was being the co-founder of Damar Services. She had a love of Native American culture and served as a volunteer at the Eiteljorg Museum from its opening for many years.

A 1956 graduate of Broad Ripple High School, Sherry enjoyed playing the clarinet in the school’s marching band. She graduated from Indiana University in 1960 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and added a Master’s degree 1963. She earned recognition as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Sherry was the mother of Daniel A. Tollefson who preceded her in death. Sherry was the proud Aunt of Stacia L.(Holland) Pratt, Carmel, and Erik M. Holland, Austin, TX. Her brother, Michael W. Holland, also survives.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Damar Services.