Women Who Inspire: Sherri Houston, A Sportsman’s Daughter

In the hills of Oklahoma, we find a remarkable lady who has grown-up in the limelight of her father’s fame as one of the world’s best fishermen. She has carried many job titles and learned many lessons throughout her years. Christian Women Living Magazine would like to introduce you to Sherri Houston and share her inspiring story of fame and God.

Cyndi Kay Green: Will you please introduce yourself to our readers and give us a little background information? Family? Children? Career? Hobbies? Where are you from?
Sherri Houston-Casas: Born in Tahlequah, raised in and lived in Cookson OK my entire life. Moved a whole nine miles to Park Hill in 2020. I attended Keys Elementary and graduated from Tahlequah High School. I also attended Northeastern State University for 6 semesters before switching to fishing professional bass tournaments.

I began working at Jimmy Houston Outdoors in 1978 fulfilling television mail orders, and then later, I started taking care of 100k+ catalog mail outs and order fulfilment before we sold the catalog part of our business to Bass Pro Shops. After that, I became responsible for all the billing for Jimmy Houston Outdoors television series, booking Jimmy’s appearances and billing those to this day. In 1990, I completed Travel Tech Travel Agent Training and opened our family travel agency. 2010 added another job title to my work week when I completed the course work for a real estate license and added Realtor to my job titles. Then in 2017, I became a Herbalife Distributor and opened a nutrition club in Keys, and in 2019, I converted the club into a sandwich shop.

I have two sons -Jeremy 33 (Melissa) and Kyle (Kerry) Combs who all live in the area. Five grandchildren – Kutler, Merrick Avarie, Brantley, Carter. Two bonus grandsons – Judah and Lincoln. Two bonus kids Erick and Kerry, along with another bonus grandson Colby who all live in California.

I have recently been blessed to have found a wonderful husband and on Dec. 3, 2020, I married Dr. Jack Casas.

My hobbies include fishing, hunting, reading, travel, Oklahoma Sooner sports, Dodger Baseball and Browns Football.

CKG: Can you give us a summary on your journey with Christ — from the time you accepted Christ, to how you started in ministry.
SH: I began attending Cookson Methodist Church from the time I could walk. The church was across the highway from my grandparent’s store and our homes. Since my parents and grandparents were working, someone would walk me across the street for Sunday School and church each week. As I got older, I was active in the youth group. Our youth leader, Billie Woods was instrumental in leading me to Christ. During one of our week-end events with a church in Ft Smith I was convicted of my need for salvation and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.

CKG: Tell us about your ministry and how it came to be.
SH: When I was 13 my grandparents sold the store, and we began attending Keys First Southern Baptist Church since my granddad had been a Baptist deacon in Oklahoma City before moving to Lake Tenkiller. I was active in the youth group and taught Sunday School. After my marriage I became involved in youth ministry, teaching the youth Sunday School and as a sponsor in camps and activities. Later my then husband and I started a ministry and outreach for young married couples. Once my kids were a little older, I got back into youth ministry. For about 12 years I was the “youth mom”, cooking and mothering at church camp, activities, events.

During those later years, I also began again working with couples and women in our church assisting our pastor Andy Bowman and his wife Renie in helping couples grow in their marriage. In 2008 my marriage was devastated. I was a broken woman. My church was a source of strength during that time. In searching for validation as a woman, I made the mistake of not waiting for God to send me the man He wanted for me.

I remarried and thought I was happy. At least that’s what I put on. I was broken even worse than before. I went through emotional and mental abuse. Finally, God bopped me on the head and said enough is enough. I got rid of that baggage. I spent 3 years letting God work on me and heal me. My life was happy again. Didn’t care if I ever got married again. God was the only thing I needed.

Then, out of the blue, a friend asked if I would be interested in meeting a man just to have someone to do things with. I thought, “Sure, I’d give it a shot.” A year and a half later we are married and having a wonderful life. So many people have commented on how I changed and how happy I am now.

CKG: What do you feel are the most common struggles for women in today’s society?
SH: The hardest is “being enough” or “being good enough”. Am I good enough as an employee, mother, wife, daughter, Christian? We start out as little girls being told to “be good”. We struggle in careers to juggle being a wife, mother, and business success.

We are apt to put our needs and care behind the rest of our family’s. It took me so long to realize I could not take care of others if I didn’t first take care of myself. We as women need to stop feeling guilty for doing things just for ourselves! Take time for that manicure, beauty shop appointment, exercise class, lock the bathroom door and take a bubble bath with a good book! It’s amazing how much more you can accomplish if you take care of you first!

CKG: Can you share with us how your dad’s fame has affected you? Do most people let that affect your relationship with them?

SH: I literally grew up during the rise of tournament fishing. The stars of the fishing world were just my dad’s friends, nothing special. I had more or less grown up in a bass boat even before the tournament fishing started. Before the television show when Dad was fishing tournaments my brother and I traveled with my parents to all the tournaments. We were partially homeschooled before it was a thing. We were able to take our schoolwork with us when we traveled and stay caught up. We got to see a lot of the country during those years. There was a “brat pack” of us tournament kids that have kept in touch over the years. It was several years into the television show before the “fame” came about. Probably the biggest asset that came from these years of being in the public eye is learning how to “do” people. Not using people but being able to treat each person with respect and kindness. Watching my parents and their fishing friends interact with the people taught me how important it is to treat people with integrity and respect.

I’ve had instances (2nd marriage) where people used my family’s name and influence for their gain. I’ve had people think I was wealthy when I’m not. I’ve worked full time since I was 14. I learned how to manage money and take care of my own bills. People think I get everything handed to me because of what my family overall owns now. They don’t realize this business started from nothing. My parents worked multiple jobs to get my dad through college while we lived in a 3-room cabin. After he graduated, Dad started selling insurance which allowed him to do his fishing too. Everything along the way has been a family effort. Even to this day with my cousin managing our store, my brother managing our boat dealership, mom managing the show and ranch, and me doing a little bit of it all.

CKG: Being the daughter of a sportsman like Jimmy Houston, what is your favorite outdoors activity? Share with us a time when God answered your prayers.
SH: Anything on the water! I fished tournaments for years. I love fishing just for fun now and teaching my husband how to fish and hunt. I didn’t begin hunting deer until I was 46. I’ve always enjoyed shooting guns, so it was natural to start hunting too. My husband and I enjoy just riding around Lake Tenkiller on our pontoon.

CKG: Who would you say influenced your walk with Christ?
SH: My parents and grandparents. My Gramma Lizzie wasn’t saved until her later years. I took care of her at the end of her life. I had a baby monitor in her room and could hear her each night praying for so many people by name. I must admit some of those are people that I wouldn’t have prayed for! She had a quiet, strong faith. My Dad and Gramps both are/were vocal about their faith. In recent years Dad has almost become a preacher. My working on his Facebook and YouTube channels has a great influence on my daily attitude. My Mom – well what’s to day – she’s a calming effect on everyone, the glue that holds us together, and the one you want praying for you!

CKG: Has Covid affected your professional life? if so how?
SH: COVID-19 has had only a mild effect on me professionally. As a Realtor and sandwich shop owner, I am considered an essential worker. We haven’t closed any of our businesses during the pandemic. The most affected part of our/my businesses is booking appearances for Dad. I do his scheduling for speaking engagements. From March until now he has only had 2 where normally it’s 80+! This is a drastic drop in income there. I’ve spent more time in the sandwich shop and store. This has allowed me to interact more personally with people in our community and hopefully be a bright spot in someone’s day.

CKG: Do you feel that the pandemic has forever changed our way of life?
SH: I have been refusing to accept a “new normal”. Overall, my lifestyle hasn’t really changed much this past year due to COVID-19. I’ve worked all the days I would have otherwise. We haven’t traveled as much due to the restrictions although we plan on traveling more when this world opens back up. I personally feel the new political climate will have more of a change on our way of life than the pandemic.

CKG: What inspires you?
SH: I listen to The Message radio station anytime I’m in my car. God speaks to me so often through the music played. His timing is wonderful. No matter what I’m going through, I get in the car and the song playing is speaking directly to me! I love listening to contemporary Christian music and can identify with so many of the songs. The words lift me up, challenge me, comfort me, remind me. They are a prayer.

CKG: If you could share any piece of advice to our readers what would it be?
SH: No matter what you are going through, there is One who will be beside you that will give you peace and strength. He will hold you in His arms. I know it’s cliché but “let go and let God” has been my motto for several years now. It’s amazing how much simpler things are when we quit trying to control it. Instead of waiting until we screw it up to call on God, give it to Him at the start and let Him drive!

CKG: Share your favorite scripture and why.
SH: Philippians 4:13 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. No matter what is going on in my life or in the world. He is in charge and He gives me the strength to go through each day with a song in my heart and a smile on my face. I also like Proverbs 31; this is my guide on being a Godly woman. I strive to be the woman people would use this to describe.

On behalf of Christian Women Living Magazine, I would like to thank Sherri for taking time to share her story with us.