- Date Of Birth: August 8, 1958
- Date Of Death: March 25, 2012
- State: Arizona
Sherri Lee Anderson, 53, of Paradise Valley, AZ passed away March 25, 2012 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 8, 1958 in Albuquerque, NM. She is survived by her husband of 25 years Jeff Walton of Paradise Valley, AZ; cherished daughters Jordan, of Hollywood, CA and Katie and Kendall both of Paradise Valley, AZ. She will be greatly missed by her parents Tom and Lora Lee Anderson of Port St. Lucie, FL and her surviving siblings Michelle (Cathy Videbeck) Anderson of Long Beach, CA and Charles (Kris) Anderson and her niece Jaydn and nephew Joey all of Phoenix, AZ. She is also survived by her extended family of sister and brother in laws and plus 11 nieces, nephews and grandnieces. Sherri grew up in Phoenix, AZ and graduated from Maryvale High School. Diagnosed with Clinical Depression in 2002, Sherri realized she had lived with the consequences of this undiagnosed illness for most of her life thus prompting her to become an avid advocate and spokesperson on the subject of women and depression. As a volunteer lobbyist for the Mental Health Association of Arizona she worked with state legislators, government officials and other lobbyists and advocacy organizations to craft and refine legislation so it would benefit, rather than harm those affected by mental illness. The legislation she was most recognized for was her collaboration with state Senator Henry Mitchell (D) Tempe to convince the Arizona Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Commission to update the mental health training offered at the state police academies. In 2005 a new 6 hour curriculum and 3 new levels of advanced training were added to law enforcement training. In addition to her many accomplishments she also served as Chairman of the Maricopa County Human Rights Committee for the Mentally Ill from 2001-2010.
