Cheryl Newton (Cochran/Walsh)

Now residing in her heavenly home, Cheryl Ann (Cochran) Walsh/Newton, 70, passed away from cancer at dawn on September 5, 2017, at the loving home of her daughter Kim. She was surrounded by her daughters, son-in-law, BC, and lifelong friend, Laurel Grofvert of Lawrence, MI, during her last days. Cheri was born in Sioux Center, IA on July 19, 1947, to James R and Annabel (Boone) Cochran. She attended Parchment Schools and was a 1965 Graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. She also attended Sioux Center High School in Iowa. She gracefully handled many life changes with strength, including moving her family of six to Copperas Cove, TX in 1980, then to Germany in early 1982, returning to Michigan in late 1983. She moved to Hawaii in 1990 and returned to Michigan again in 1996 to care for ailing parents. The last four years she split her time at her girls' homes, driving herself between Michigan, Oklahoma and North Carolina. Her family and friends are proud of her earning an Associate's degree with honors from Davenport College in 1990, spring boarding a new career in desktop publishing, property management, and administration with positions in Maui, HI, EPC in Mattawan, MI and Dudley Elementary School in Battle Creek, MI, retiring as school secretary in 2012. We are so proud of her hard work during the last few years to become physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy, flourishing as she grew deeper in her Christian faith. The Grief Therapy program of Celebrate Recovery was one of the means which contributed to this significant growth. Cheri had many admiral qualities and talents, including a giant heart, maintaining meaningful relationships, always remembering birthdays and special occasions. She was kind, patient and forgiving. Family and extended family was very important to her and she spent many hours researching genealogy. She loved music, travel, flowers, gardens, all of God's creatures and had a burden for the unborn. She was known for her creativity, decorating and organizational skills, her way with the written word and for stretching a dollar. She was preceded in death by her parents (1996/1997) and both of her brothers, Barry Cochran (2014), Scott Cochran (2013), step granddaughter Alexandria McBurnett (2009) and many others dear to her. She is survived by daughters: Kim (BC) Cleveland of Matthews, NC, Lesli (Matt) Kwiatkowski of Hudsonville, MI, Carla (Tyrone) Richardson of Moore, OK and Sarah Walsh of Pittsburgh, PA and her grandchildren Colin Kerr, Alaina, Olivia and Evelyn Kwiatkowski, Corey and Cavan Rice, Ridley Richardson and Jacob Shuster. She is also survived by stepdaughters Jennifer (Jeremy) McCollum, Jessica (Jeff) McBurnett, Jeanna (Casey) Randall, seven step grandchildren Grace, Lauren, Meredith, Nolan, Parker, Alexis and Brady, her two sisters-in-law, Marcia Cochran and Elaine Cochran and many beloved family members and friends. The Memorial Life Celebration service will be held at 5 PM Friday, September 29 at Calvary Church, 707 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI. Flowers may be delivered to Calvary Church, Entrance C, the day of the Memorial. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (donatehospice.org) who offered her such compassionate care. For more information on this and other causes close to Cheri's heart, please visit: www.carepages.com/carepages/cherisjourney.