SHERRYL A. CUNNINGHAM, 72, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away on December 25, 2013 after losing her long battle with heart disease and left this world to be with her Lord. There will be a celebration of her life on Tuesday December 31st at 10:30 a.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor Pinky Person will officiate. A luncheon will follow in the lower level of the VFW hall in Cherokee. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date. On line condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com
Sherryl Leonard was born Jan. 8, 1941 to Dwight and Charlotte Leonard in Cherokee. She spent her life in Cherokee, growing up near Dogtown Hill, the eldest of 7 kids. After her father left, she knew it would be a tough road ahead for her mother, so as the oldest she didn't hesitate to help out in any way she could. Her first waitressing job came in high school when she worked at Speelmon's and faithfully turned her money over to Grandma to help provide for the other kids.
She told us many times of the struggles they all endured and how strong Grandma was to raise the family on her own. This made her grateful for everything she had and created in her a work ethic that we have all learned from and try to live up to even now. Many times she talked about how exciting it was to get a package from Montgomery Wards each fall, which contained one new dress and one new pair of shoes for school, both of which had to last all year. These tough times instilled in her a tremendous sense of gratitude and humility and satisfaction with the simple things in life. She said that even though she knew they were poor, she didn't really feel poor because there were always families just down the street who had even less.
She will be remembered as a fun, gregarious person to be with, and an incredibly hard worker, a loyal friend, faithful Christian and a loving wife and Mother. She constantly worried about those around her, wanting to make sure everyone had what they needed.
Sherryl was preceded in death by her parents, nephew Jon Pearl, sister TeeDee Turner, brother Timothy Leonard, and just last month, sister Jewell Park.
She leaves behind her husband of 51 years, Vernon Cunningham; 3 children and their families, and one step-son and his family. Jeff Cunningham, Des Moines and his sons Dylan and Dallas; Craig Cunningham, St. Louis, MO; Elizabeth (Kurt) Chausse, Ames, and their kids Elijah and Madison; and Vernon (Jodi) Cunningham, Jr., Riva, MD, and their son Quinn. Also her sisters Becky Leonard, Cherokee; Taffee Henderson, Denver, CO; and brother Stephen Leonard, Anamosa, her aunt Marcella Cline of Cherokee, Iowa. She will be missed by her many cousins, nieces and nephews, in-laws and many lifelong friends.