Thelma Frances Daisley

August 25, 1938 – March 26, 2026

Thelma Frances Daisley, 87, Sheridan, passed away on Thursday morning, March 26, 2026, at Majestic Care of Sheridan. Born August 25, 1938, in Springfield, Ohio, she was the daughter of Irvin Dale and Esther M. (Dennis) Campbell.

She was a 1955 graduate of Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle, Ohio, and later earned her associate’s degree in accounting from Indiana Business College in Marion, Ind.

She was a member of the Sheridan First United Methodist Church. Her church family remained a cornerstone of her strength and faith throughout her life.

Thelma was the office manager for The Sheridan News for over 20 years. The newspaper was run from a small building on Main Street in the middle of town. It was from that tiny brick building that the comings and goings of Sheridan, as well as the surrounding communities, was always front-page news (no matter what page it was eventually printed on). Keeping it all straight was no easy task, but Thelma had everything running like a well-oiled machine. Everyone on staff had a job to do – sometimes multiple – and Thelma’s was managing the chaos. Thelma took it all in stride. As a working mother with (very active) children, she was a professional multitasker, and her deep sense of community was a perfect fit for the organization. When The Sheridan News ceased operations, she moved to The Noblesville Ledger office and joined the advertising department. After three years, she decided retirement would be her next move.

Retirement allowed her time to devote to the things she enjoyed the most. She varied her activities according to the seasons. Cold weather was dedicated to reading and working jigsaw puzzles, while the warmer months had Thelma ready to hit the streets with Kruzer, the most spoiled little white poodle in town. She and Kruzer loved visiting Veteran’s Park on their walks and keeping a close eye on the neighborhood. She also enjoyed spending time out in the yard, fussing over her flowers. No matter the season, there was always either a Colts game or a baseball game (usually the Indianapolis Indians), Westerns, Hallmark movies, and of course, her game shows to occupy her attention during downtime.

For Thelma, there was nothing more important than family. While the kids were growing up, she made it a point to be involved with whatever they were involved in. Band, athletics, and scouting were just a few of the activities she followed. When the grandchildren came along, she started all over again. It was the times spent together at home that were always her favorite. Thelma was an amazing cook and baker, so many family activities revolved around food. Holidays, birthdays, and family dinners were always special celebrations, and Friday pizza night was always a family favorite. The pizza was always homemade; takeout didn’t make the cut. She loved to travel with the family and never grew tired of being on the go with the grandkids. Thelma also loved Halloween, and when trick-or-treat rolled around, her place was the place to hit … tons of candy and cans of soda pop.

Thelma always felt a strong sense of community, and with that, a strong sense of service. She was an active member of the Sheridan American Legion Auxiliary, as well as a generous donor to the Sheridan Fire Department. She tried to live her life by two simple rules, one being the Golden Rule, and the other: if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all. This philosophy helped her take on every situation with love, kindness, and most of all, patience. Her generous and caring nature was complemented by her smile. Her nickname was Smiley, and when you saw it, you just knew everything was going to be ok. Thelma also had a special place in her heart for animals. If a stray dog or cat found their way to her property and was in need of rescuing, they instantly found a home.

Thelma is survived by two sons, Wilbur A. Barrus (Cheryl) of Sheridan, and Chris J. Daisley (Julie) of Lebanon; three daughters, Thelma F. Wallen (David) of Sheridan; Nora M. Crist (Ronnie) of Lebanon, and Heather S. Archer (Ken) of Acworth, Ga.; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Grace Howard of Wendover, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Irvin Dale and Esther M. (Dennis) Campbell; son, Alex; daughter, Sue Ann; two brothers, Sonny and Earl; sister, Teddy; brother-in-law, Paul Howard; her canine BFF, Kruzer; and by her loving husband, Elwyn John Daisley on December 12, 2011. She and Elwyn were married in 1969.

Services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2026, at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan, with visitation from 4 p.m. until the time of service. Pastor George Cooper will be officiating.

Thelma will be laid to rest at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Crown View Cemetery in Sheridan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be presented to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Sheridan First United Methodist Church, or to MAMA’S Cupboard.

Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com