07/23/2026
Our sympathies to the family of Sheral Adene Yates McDermet March 29, 1937—July 22, 2025, Robin Run Assisted Living, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Sheral Adene Yates McDermet was born to Elmer and Lucille (Linebaugh) Yates in Lincoln, Nebraska. She graduated from Northeast High School, attended Nebraska Wesleyan College for 2 years, and was a member of the Phi Mu Sorority. She married William (Bill) McDermet in August 1957, and finished college at Texas Christian University while Bill attended seminary there. Following seminary, Bill and Sheral served churches in Kalona, IA, McPherson, KS, Indianapolis, IN, and Decatur, IL.
While living in McPherson, KS, Sheral started SAM’s Bake Shoppe, which she continued while living in Indianapolis. She baked many birthday and wedding cakes, and earned a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management at IUPUI. In 1989, Sheral and Bill bought the Mason House Bed & Breakfast Inn in Bentonsport, IA which they ran for 12 years.
Sheral and Bill loved attending events at Chautauqua Institution so much that they eventually bought a house in southwestern NY so that they could attend the whole summer season and help out at the Disciples House. They even worked as ushers at the Amphitheater for at least 1 summer. Retirement also took them to Pleasantville, TN, Raymore, MO, and Lincoln NE. They made many lasting friendships everywhere they lived, and enjoyed taking trips to spend time with lifelong friends. Following Bill’s death, Sheral moved to Robin Run Village Senior Living in Indianapolis in 2022.
One of the most significant events in Sheral’s life was surviving polio in the early 1950’s. She was always grateful to a friend of the family who snuck her into the physical therapy department of the Lincoln VA hospital on Sundays, for PT that her parents could not afford. She was able to resume most of her pre-polio activities, but the history of that diagnosis meant she could not pursue her dream of going to nursing school. The condition caught up with her again in her 70’s, when she began to have symptoms of post-polio syndrome, and started using a walker.
Sheral is survived by four children: Stephanie (Chuck) Malancuk, Melanie McDermet (Jeff Foster), Kimberly McDermet, and William (Marie) McDermet IV; four grandchildren: Brian Malancuk, Kori McDermet, Clare McDermet, and Julia McDermet Tung; four great grandchildren: Sam, Tobi, Leon and Sylvia Malancuk; brothers Alan (Susan) Yates and Kent Yates, and niece Kris Yates; brothers-in-law Stewart (Kris) McDermet, and Staley (Beth) McDermet.
A celebration of life will be held at Downey Avenue Christian Church in Indianapolis on August 1, 2026 at 1:00pm. You may send comments and memories to be shared in the service to the email address [email protected]
Memorial gifts may be made to: Downey Avenue Christian Church Food Pantry (https://www.downeyavenue.com/) or Chautauqua Association Disciples of Christ (https://www.chautauquadisciples.org/donations).
