Sherman Ray Alldredge   June 12, 1953 - Feb. 12, 2018

In September 2017, when Sherman learned he had bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), he reflected - if the outcome was bad, he would have no complaints and wanted everyone to know he was one of the luckiest men in the world, with a wonderful loving family, a beautiful wife who loved him, two sons ready to make their place in the world; and, many true lifelong friends (even if they called him Sheldon).  He was at peace, grateful for a life well-lived and fully enjoyed.  Happily adding - one he expected to continue.

Born in Salt Lake City, Sherman was the fifth child of O. Claron and Helen Hunter Alldredge.  He passed peacefully in Portland comforted by his wife Jeanne, sons Hunter and Connor, and a few close friends.

He grew up a Browning Circle kid, an idyllic neighborhood with over 60 children.  Educated in Salt Lake City schools, he graduated from East High School in 1971, then attended University of Utah, where he was President of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

After U of Utah, Sherman successfully sold television commercial time for, "Lucky Channel 13" in Missoula, Mont.  Eager for a larger market, in 1978 he moved to KATU-TV in Portland — a perennial sales leader at KATU, he moved in 1983 to become sales manager for KECH 22 Salem.

While marketing and sales provided income, Sherman was driven by a deep responsibility to help his clients grow profitably.  He decided to do this by putting his intellect, creativity and marketing skills into his own company, Market Place Communications, offering "Shelf Talker" an original idea for food stores that increased sales by drawing a shopper's attention to products and prices on the shelf.

Moving to Chicago in 1986 when ShelfVision bought his company was Sherman's smartest move .  The CFO was a talented and attractive woman, Jeanne Durell Grob, and the future Mrs. Alldredge.

When ACT Media, the largest in-store marketing company, purchased ShelfVision in 1988, Sherman returned to Portland with Jeanne.  Together they purchased Northwestern Studios and renamed it NW Media.  They also launched NW Environmental Sound, supplying music and announcements to retail stores with a new idea — short messages aimed at specific shoppers — with Jeanne voicing the announcements.

In May of 1989, Sherman and Jeanne were married.  Hunter was born in 1991 and Connor in 1994.  For years they made their home in Dunthorpe, where they hosted fun and memorable gatherings with family and friends.  Armed with a thousand laugh-out-loud funny real-life stories, and a quick sense of humor, Sherman was always the life of the party and the stand-up comic at any gathering.

Sherman was the ideal dad, neighbor and friend we all wish we had; always there, solid, dependable, helping out no matter the task, he never missed a moving day.  He was a gift he gave to others freely, no strings attached.  He was not only there to comfort a sick or grieving friend, but like a cape-wearing superhero, he searched out anyone he sensed needed a few lightning bolts of fun, joy and laughter hurled at them to lift their spirits.  Sherman made everyone feel better, even if it was simply listening to you as if you were the only person in the room, and always, always, replied respectfully with wisdom.

Sherman was preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; sons, Evan Hunter and Connor John; and siblings, Kathryn Alldredge, Mary Taylor, San Marcos, Calif., O.  Claron Alldredge (Lillian) SLC Utah, Mary A.  Griffiths (Bill) West Linn and Jean A.  Stevens (Mark), SLC, Utah; and many nieces and nephews.

Words can neither measure nor express our sense of loss.