Sherry Lee (Crandall) Bender

   Sherry Lee Bender, 80, of Charlevoix, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023. She was surrounded by her family. Sherry was born on July 26,1942, in Traverse City. She was the daughter of Leon and Betty Jane (Hatlem) Crandall. 

Sherry married her husband, Joseph Bender, in 1966. They had four glorious children, Wendy, Gretchen, Melissa and Joseph. In the early years she loved spending time on the family farm, also at her grandparents' place on Glen Lake. She was well known for taking care of her younger siblings. She was the buy, sell, trade girl on WTCM/WCCW radio station in Traverse City. Where she pushed to have country music brought to the area. 

Sherry has always had a love for country music. As she grew older she fell in love with gardening and became a great at home florist. As Sherry's kids were growing up they loved to travel, especially down to Disney. Her family had many ventures together over the years as she worked alongside her husband and experienced all of the avenues he explored. She was a hard worker. Her kids always came first, she volunteered at their schools in the library and worked in the kitchens. She taught them all how important a good work ethic is and showed them how hard work pays off. She was co-owner of Little Rascals children's clothing store in downtown Traverse City. She then owned and operated Mr. Doughnut on 14th street in Traverse City working alongside her eldest daughter, Wendy, for four years. 

Sherry worked later in life at Flap Jack Family Restaurant that she owned and operated for over 30 year in Charlevoix. Flap Jack shack originally began in 1974 with family co owning with her, working at multiple locations between Florida and Michigan. 

She cherished and truly loved all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; they were her prize possessions. She always said "they just made me so happy!". She would often be seen in the corner booth at the Flap Jack doing paperwork and talking with her customers, and coworkers who she thought of as her work family. She was a daughter, wife, mom, sister, nana, and business owner but most importantly she was a friend. She touched the lives of so many people, always offering a helping hand, a donation, free food, anything she could to help those in need. She enjoyed giving. 

Sherry had a heart of gold who will be missed by so many. 

Sherry is survived by her children, Wendy (John) LaBonte of Leelanau County, Melissa (Tim Schut) Bender, Gretchen Bender and Joseph (Amy) Bender, of East Jordan; nephew, Marc Bender; grandchildren, Kayla, KayCee (Gordon), Timmy, Elle, Jordyn (Jared), Noah, Izic (Angela), Chloe, Natalee and Nicholas; great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Jocelyn, Leonardo, Edison, Elijah, Everly and Baylee; her siblings, Timothy Crandall and Linda Crandall; she is also survived by her family at the Flap Jack Family Restaurant. 

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; her brothers, Tom Crandall, Theodore 'Ted' Crandall; brother in laws, Jerry Bender and James (Jimmy) Bender. 

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Lighthouse Missionary Church, East Jordan. Reverend Bart Adams will officiate. 

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time at church. 

In memory of Sherry Lee Bender, the family requested flowers to be added to the world, "Grow Your Garden". 

The family was served by the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc., East Jordan, Michigan. 

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