Marlene Sherrill BurkhalterHendersonville, NCMarlene Sherrill Burkhalter died on May 13th, 2017, at Elizabeth House Hospice in Hendersonville, NC, following a brief illness, with her children at her side. She was born on August 29, 1931, in Echola, Alabama, youngest of six children of Dow and Lillie Sherrill. Her family nicknamed her Polly ("Polly want a cracker?"), an endearing nod to her quiet nature, and one that her beloved husband Bill used throughout their lives together. In 1951, she began dating her lifelong love, Melvin "Bill" Burkhalter, of Gordo, Alabama. Recalling their courtship, Bill often fondly remembered Marlene as "the prettiest girl in the room." They married on March 1, 1952, and were together for 45 years, until Bill's death on May 3, 1997. In 1963, Marlene and Bill moved from Alabama to Logan, West Virginia, with their two small children, Deborah and Joel. Bill was a partner in the Logan Banner newspaper and The Letter Shop until 1976, when he and Marlene moved to Boca Raton, Florida. The couple moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 1991, where Marlene remained until moving to Hendersonville in 2014. Marlene's kind, gentle, generous, loving spirit infused her life and the lives of her family and friends. She was a woman of quiet dignity, and she afforded that same dignity to those around her. She was completely devoted to her family. Marlene enjoyed gardening, cultivating bonsai, and golfing with her pals from the Reserve in Port St. Lucie. She nurtured and adored her companion animals, Max, Touley, and Sylvie. Marlene will be deeply missed.Marlene is predeceased by her husband, parents, and five siblings-Louis Henry Sherrill, Minot Leon Sherrill, Mildred Jewel Noland, Mary Edna Muscia, and Juanita Sherrill. She is survived by her children, Deborah Burkhalter (Paula Murphy) of Westhampton, MA, and Joel Burkhalter (Kate Burkhalter) of Hendersonville, NC. There will be a private burial in Tuscaloosa, AL.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Elizabeth House Hospice, Four Season's Foundation Office, 571 South Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC, 28731, or to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, 31 Glendale Ave., Asheville, NC, 28803.