Kari Ann Sherman, 51, of Land O Lakes, Florida passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026, surrounded by her family. Kari was born on a rainy April 15, 1975 in Virginia Beach, Virginia to Rob L. Sherman and Ann K. Heely Sherman. She was a big sister to her brother Robbie and sister Erin, and a little sister to Robynn Sherman, whom they called “Leigh.”

A 1993 graduate of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, Kari continued her education at Tidewater Community College. As a young adult living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, she worked as a waitress, a vet tech, and at the YMCA. After returning to Virginia Beach, she worked at the Great Bridge Presbyterian Church daycare center.

Gymnastics was Kari’s sport of passion–beginning at age 4 she took lessons at the local YMCA and becoming a team member at age 7 with Ocean Tumblers in Chesapeake, Virginia, participating in competitions across the state. Competing and performing as a gymnast with Ocean Tumblers took her to Canada, Bermuda, Japan, Hong Kong, and China.

By the time she was enrolled at Great Bridge High School, Kari was competing at a very high level and was the first Great Bridge student to qualify for the state gymnastic meet.

Much as Kari loved being a gymnast, her two children, Brandon and Leighann, were her greatest joys in life. Many fun-filled days were spent at public parks and beaches as well as at family gatherings. She instilled the values of love, kindness, and the importance of family to her children. Kari also passed along her passion for all things sports.

After she and her children moved to Florida in 2012, Kari took on the role of “auntie” and became something of a second mom as she helped to care for her sister Erin’s and brother-in-law Nathan’s children— Drew, Lily, Nataleigh, and Mason.

With her continued passion for gymnastics, Kari sought a gymnastics-centered career. She became not only a coach, but was also promoted to the role of director for a preschool program at Suncoast Gymnastics Academy in Odessa, Florida. With great devotion to and fondness for her students, or “Littles” as she called them, Kari built her coaching work into a highly sought after and well-respected preschool program in the community—one with a very lengthy waiting list. Through the gymnastics program she founded, Kari would touch many lives, becoming known fondly as “Coach K.”  Her own children would say that if there was anyone Kari loved as much as them, that would be her “Littles.”  Without fail, when she went out and about the town, one would always hear a shout of “Look! There’s Coach K!!”

Proceeded in death by her father, Robin L. Sherman (2017), she is survived by her children, Brandon A. Bundick and Leighann E. Bundick, her mother Ann K. Heely, her siblings, Robynn S. Taylor, Robert B. Sherman, and Erin E. Possert (Nathan), her nephews Drew, Mason, and nieces Lily, and Nataleigh, aunts, uncles, and many cousins.