Verde Valley Sanctuary honors longtime volunteer Sherlene Ernst at Twice Nice gathering in Sedona
Ernst died of cancer in October 2025
SEDONA, Ariz. — With a heavy heart, tears of joy and laughter, Verde Valley Sanctuary leadership and Sedona Twice Nice Thriftique staff honored the memory of longtime volunteer Sherlene Ernst, who lost her battle with cancer last fall.
“Volunteers like Sherlene are truly indispensable,” Verde Valley Sanctuary Executive Director Jessye Johnson said. “Without them, Verde Valley Sanctuary would struggle to fulfill our mission and provide critical services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.”
Her husband Jack Ernst, alongside other family and friends listened to Johnson, Twice Nice Manager Alicia Henson and others as they shared their fondest memories of Sherlene during her 12 years as a volunteer at the thrift store, which is owned by Verde Valley Sanctuary and provides necessary funding to the agency to help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
“Sherlene brought care, warmth, and authenticity to her work at Twice Nice,” Henson said. “She connected naturally with people, made volunteers and customers feel welcome, and contributed not just through her work but through the atmosphere she created. Her presence helped make Twice Nice feel lively, caring and human.”
Jack shared one story about his late wife, who used to purchase shoes from the thrift store to support the mission, then later turn around and donate the items back to the store.
“We eventually had to have a rule that when something came into the house, something had to go out,” Jack said with a laugh. “But it always made its way back to Twice Nice.”
A native of Redmond, Washington, Sherlene graduated from Redmond High School in 1970 and attended Western Washington University before working as an office manager, an aerobics instructor and a stay-at-home mom.
Jack and Sherlene were married for 30 years, and May 24 was their wedding anniversary.
“For over a decade she volunteered at Twice Nice, celebrating the mission and values of Verde Valley Sanctuary,” Jack said. “She loved working with the employees and other volunteers. In addition, she felt blessed to be a part of the family and support the community and service to customers.”
Linda Allen, also a Twice Nice volunteer and friend of Sherlene’s, said they first met at Twice Nice working Tuesday afternoons steaming clothes.
“Sherlene [always] kept an eye on the clothes to be sure they were attractively displayed,” Allen said. “If she wasn’t needed at the register, she always looked for some small detail to make customers feel welcome and appreciated.”
Allen remembered that Sherlene was always a “walking advertisement” for Twice Nice clothing, frequently wearing items she purchased from the store.
“Sherlene had a knack, maybe it was really a gift, for finding the unique, the unusual and putting the pieces together into an outfit worthy of a fashion runway,” Allen said, adding that of all the memories she has of Sherlene, the best were “casual conversations” between the two.
“Her family was consistently the center of our chats,” Allen said. “I am grateful to have known Sherlene, Twice Nice has greatly benefitted from her years of service and her family has been blessed by her presence in their lives.”
If interested in becoming a volunteer at Sedona Twice Nice, or the Camp Verde Twice Nice, please visit VerdeValleySanctuary.org, navigate to the “Ways to Give” tab and click “Volunteer.”
About
Verde Valley Sanctuary’s mission is to provide safety, services, and comfort to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The agency began in 1993 as a grassroots organization with a leased modular home that slept six and has grown into a 28-bed emergency shelter with transitional housing options, lay legal advocacy services, community-based advocacy support, a 24/7/365 crisis hotline (928-634-2511) and a staff that takes pride in its youth violence prevention education and public outreach and awareness. VVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and qualifying charitable organization for the Arizona Tax Credit. Federal Tax ID: #86-071314; QCO Code: #20041. Visit VerdeValleySanctuary.org for more information.