Sherry Gara, 86 years old, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2025, in her home in Las Cruces, NM.

Sherry was born in Detroit, MI, and was the only child to parents Sylvia and Samuel Ellman. In her working years, she practiced as a MSW focused on marriage and family counseling in Ann Arbor, MI while raising four children.

Sherry had a passion for animals and their welfare and was one of the principals involved in creating S.N.A.P (Spay and Neuter Action Program) in Las Cruces to humanely address Las Cruces' animal overpopulation issue. Throughout her 20+ years in Las Cruces, Sherry worked tirelessly to foster and get adopted hundreds of dogs and cats and, in the process, enriched the lives of many people for whom animal companionship made all the difference. She also loved plants and created a remarkable English garden in her backyard. The abundance and beauty of her garden made her home a notable stop for the local annual Home Garden Tour event. Her home was filled to overflowing with beautiful paintings, sculptures, plants and mementos evidencing her love of art and culture to all who entered. She was an avid and voracious reader, always eager to learn more and, to that end, enjoyed socializing in multiple weekly book clubs for years. She was devoted to her children, their families, and her many, many diverse friends generously offering life-changing love, thoughtful guidance, and unwavering support. More than anything, Sherry had a thirst for life, loved people, had a gift for conjuring solutions at every turn, and had a warmth and charisma that helped, humored, and healed nearly everyone that entered her orbit. There was no one like her. She will be deeply and dearly missed.

Sherry is survived by her daughter Laura McCaslin (Mark); her son Robert Wittenberg (Amy); her son Brian Wittenberg (Gina); her youngest son Marc Wittenberg (Stephanie); and grandchildren: Sophie, Isaac, Alex, Nicholas, and Mason.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Aaron Gara.

Donations can be made to the following link in honor of Sharon Gara:

https://www.snapnewmexico.org/

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapel and Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com