In Passing

Darren Paul Johnson

Darren Paul Johnson, 53, of Goodyear, Ariz., passed away on April 14, 2023. Darren was born in Plymouth, Mass., on Sept. 24, 1969, to Paul and Judy Johnson of Goodyear, Ariz.

Darren graduated from North Reading High School in North Reading, Mass., with the class of 1988 where he lettered in golf and hockey. He received the most valuable player award for golf in his senior year. He always played right-handed as a lefty.

Darren attended Essex Agriculture School in Danvers, Mass., before becoming the Golf Course Superintendent at Cedar Glen Golf Club in Saugus, Mass., for 10 years. He moved to Goodyear, Ariz., in 2006 and worked for 12 years as the Golf Course Superintendent at Eagle’s Nest Golf Club in PebbleCreek under the director of Golf Operations Paul McGinnis, past president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Richard Wayne Sherwood

Rick was born Aug. 16, 1945, in Bremerton, Wash., to Beryl and Ann Sherwood. As a child, he developed his love of sports; first baseball and fishing, then in high school he added basketball. Midway through his sophomore year, his dad received an opportunity to work at Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines, and Rick left Bremerton (and his long-time friends at Central Kitsap High School) to begin a 5-year adventure in the Far East with new friends at George Dewey High School and later Santo Tomas University in Manila.

With war in the Far East, he returned to the U.S. and enlisted in the Army as a medic. He was selected for advanced training at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Colorado, then it was off to Vietnam. Surviving his year in Vietnam and returning to Washington, he enrolled in a new medical program for returning corpsmen with advanced training at the University of Washington: the MEDEX program (now Physician Assistant). It was a career that he thoroughly enjoyed at Group Health Coop and later Kaiser Permanente, retiring after 34 years.

In 1971 while looking across a dance floor, he spotted the woman whom he would spend the rest of his life with, Jan. Together in the summers they traveled to national parks, backpacked Washington trails, and fished rivers and lakes. In winters, they skied and went dog sledding. Rick’s sports changed from baseball to softball and added tennis and golf. After retiring, Rick and Jan began traveling overseas: Central and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Each country held more adventures, interesting people to meet, and wonders to see.

Opting for year-round summer, in 2011 Rick and Jan built a winter home at PebbleCreek. Winters now were golfing and watching spring training baseball, and summers were golfing and salmon fishing back in Redmond, Wash.

Rick lived life to the fullest, finding joy in each day. He passed away April 22, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents Beryl and Ann, and his oldest brother James. He will be missed by his devoted wife Jan, nephews James Sherwood (Nevada), Kevin and Mark Gallagher (Washington), Melissa Weir (Colorado), and Amanda Redding (Texas), and cousins Ken and Don French and Debbie Blucher (Washington), Washington Double Eagle and Arizona Bunker Boys golfers, plus many life-long friends.

Jerome Sims

Jerome Sims Sr. passed away unexpectedly following outpatient surgery on Friday, April 28, 2023 at John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. He was born the twelfth child of thirteen to Ollie and Eugene Sims Sr. in Detroit, Mich., on Sept. 21, 1939. He attended Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Northern High School in 1957. Jerome was proud to have had many jobs starting at age 8 selling eggs off the back of a pickup truck working with a crew of young men two to three times his age. He worked at the U.S. Postal Service, Standard Oil Company, obtained a State of Michigan Liquor Control License and worked as a Manufacturer’s Representative and Salesperson for three Wine Distributors.

He later transitioned into the insurance industry, earning his certification and license as a Property & Casualty and Life Insurance Sales professional. He began his insurance career with Metropolitan Mutual Insurance and was later recruited to work for AAA Insurance of Michigan. He remained with AAA of Michigan until his retirement 30 years later as a General Sales Agent with his own agency.

Jerome met and fell in love with Bonita (Bonnie) Benton on June 17, 1967. They enjoyed 56 years of marriage. From this union were born Jerome II in 1969 and Carmen Alicia in 1973. Jerome wore many titles: husband, brother, son, uncle, cousin, coach, friend, and mentor.

Jerome and Bonita relocated to Arizona in 1995 and were early buyers in the PebbleCreek community. He held leadership positions in many PebbleCreek organizations and clubs. He was particularly proud of being the founder of the PebbleCreek Wii Bowling League and his team the “Striking Eagles.”

On April 28, Jerome made his transition and now he is able to do his greatest work. He leaves behind family and friends who will forever cherish his memory and his unforgettable spirit including his wife, Bonita Lynn Sims; his children Jerome Sims II (Sharee) and Carmen Sutherlin (Walter); grandchildren Jerome Sims III, Jada Sims, Ethan Sutherlin, and Emery Sutherlin; sisters Leola Crittendon and Louise Anderson; and countless extended family, including many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Darren was a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England and the Cactus and Pines Golf Course Superintendents Association of Arizona.

He was an avid sports fan and followed every move his beloved Boston Bruins hockey team made. He was so happy with their record this year.

He is survived by his parents Paul and Judy Johnson, his brother Michael, wife Lisa, niece Kaia, and nephew Bradley of Topsfield, Mass., his aunt, uncle, and many cousins along with friends and buddies on the North Shore area of Massachusetts.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Massachusetts.