Cheryl Lynne (Barry) Watson was born on February 1, 1950, in Everett, WA, and passed away at the age of 74 on July 16, 2024, in Marysville, WA. Cheryl joins her loved ones in heaven,
including her maternal grandfather, Guy William Ward, maternal grandmother, Caroline Grace (Harmon) Ward, paternal grandfather Charles Lester Barry, paternal grandmother Sarah Jane
(Little) Barry McMillan, and her parents Evalyn Maude (Ward) Barry and Charles Arthur Barry. Cheryl was also loved by her late stepfather, Lynn Douglas Thomas.
Cheryl was preceded in death by her first-born infant son, Charles David “Chucky” Wilson, her brothers Francis Keith “Bobby” Bonine and William “Bill” Bonine, and her sisters Marianne Sonja
(Nelson) Kona, Shirley JoAnn (Bonine) Hill and Caroline Grace (Quincy) Hartill.
Left to honor her memory is her devoted husband, Ronald William Watson. Cheryl is also survived by her sisters Rebecka Susan (Barry) Howry and Dixie Jean (Bonine) Daniels; her sons David Edwin (Sara) Wilson, Jr., and Jonathan Vernon (Laura) Wilson; her grandchildren Alexys (Stephen) Michel, Andrew, Wyatt, Abigail, and Allison Wilson; and her great- grandchildren Zariah, Georgia, and Selah Michel.
Cheryl is survived by many generations of nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly. She shared a special bond with her niece Megan Louise (Chris) (Wilson) Moe and her great-
niece Lilly-Anna Nicole Moe, as well as her nephew Kyle McKenzie (Cheryl) Wilson and her great-niece Jayme Jolynn Wilson.
Following her graduation from Marysville High School in 1968, Cheryl married her high school sweetheart, David Edwin Wilson, Sr. Together they became proud parents to three boys, but
later divorced. Grandchildren eventually brought them back into each other’s lives and along with their new spouses, they remained friends.
Cheryl eventually met the love of her life, Ron Watson, and they were married on New Year’s Eve, 1992, in Las Vegas, NV. David and Jon, along with many family members, traveled to Vegas for the wedding. This was just the first of many trips taken by Cheryl and Ron and the start of a lifetime of adventures together. They both enjoyed golf and camping. They traveled
with close friends Lloyd and Linda Starks to Tennessee, went to Mexico with Ron’s family, and took several cruises, including to Alaska. They celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary in
Reno, NV, on New Year’s Eve 2000, “Y2K,” with family and friends. Cheryl recently took two trips with her sister Becky to visit family in Missouri, one of which was a fun road-trip adventure.
Cheryl’s life was a testament to her love for talking, laughing, learning (and then sharing) interesting facts, traveling, including trips to Thailand and England, and shopping. Cheryl
worked a variety of jobs throughout her life, primarily in retail, but found her truest calling in her work as a travel agent at Doug Fox Travel in Everett, WA, and then at Holland America Cruise Line in Seattle, WA.
Following a delayed diagnosis of Celiac disease and its impact on her health, Cheryl chose to retire early. She dedicated her time to healing and adjusting to a gluten-free diet. Over the years, Cheryl faced severe anemia, requiring numerous iron and blood transfusions. She often joked about how opposites attract, as Ron’s hemochromatosis condition caused his body to store excess iron, while she struggled with a deficiency, making them a perfect match.
Cheryl’s early retirement coupled with Ron’s retirement from Boeing allowed them more time for travel. They traveled all over the US in their motorhome and lived for several years in Nevada.
When they returned to Washington State, they resided on Sage Hills Golf Course in Warden and then lived in Wenatchee before returning to the west side to be closer to their family.
Cheryl was a proud mother and grandmother, always encouraging her family and supporting them in pursuing their interests and hobbies. She enjoyed spending time with her boys and their
families. Being a grandmother, and later a great-grandmother (Gigi), brought her great joy. As a mom of all boys, she especially loved shopping with and for her granddaughters.
After battling bladder cancer in 2023, Cheryl got heartbreaking news in May 2024 that the cancer had spread to her bones and was now terminal Stage 4. Her initial prognosis and
treatment plan offered the hope of two more years, but surgery and multiple hospitalizations due to complications interfered. Cheryl chose to spend her remaining time at home, surrounded by
family, friends, and hospice caregivers. The two more years we hoped for with our beloved wife, mom, grandma, Gigi, sister, aunt, and friend turned into just a few short months. Cheryl’s
acceptance of her fate brought comfort to her family. She often reassured us that she had lived a fulfilling life.
Cheryl’s greatest legacy is her incredible strength and faith. Her belief that she would reunite with loved ones in heaven kept her going through her cancer battle. Despite everything, Cheryl showed amazing resilience and courage. With great determination, she fulfilled her dying wish to take a trip to Arizona that she had planned for her family before her diagnosis.
There are many things that Cheryl’s family, friends and acquaintances will remember and miss about her; her deep love and care for Ron and her family, her ability to make friends anywhere and everywhere that she went, the way that she always knew how to give the most meaningful gifts, and so much more. But one of Cheryl’s greatest qualities, and one that will be missed deeply by all who knew her, was her sense of humor. Her laugh could fill up any room, and she always had a witty comeback ready to fire off. Cheryl’s life was not without hardships, but she found a way to bring joy, laughter and light to this world despite what her circumstances looked like. Even in her final weeks as she herself was very ill, she had many of the doctors and nurses that treated her cracking up and telling her family how she was their favorite patient to come see. She had a special way of bringing great humor into even the darkest of moments, and all that knew her will miss that witty sarcasm and that great belly laugh of hers very much.
As we bid farewell to our cherished wife, sister, mom, aunt, grandma, Gigi, and friend, may her legacy of strength, faith, and unwavering love continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough
to know her. May her soul rest in eternal peace, forever embraced by the love of her family and the promise of divine reunion.
A celebration of Cheryl’s life will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethany Christian Assembly located at 2715 Everett Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. Reception immediately following the service.
We extend our deepest appreciation to Cheryl’s medical care team, including Virginia Mason providers John Paul Flores, MD, Oncology, his Medical Assistant, Anita and his scheduler Austin, also Laura Marquez, MSW, Oncology; Kellan Nold, PA-C, Neurosurgery; and Philip Louie, MD, Spine Surgery. We are also grateful to the Providence Cancer Partnership, particularly Darren J. Little, MD, Radiation Oncology, and to Providence, especially Jennifer G. Engstrom, MD, Family Medicine. Our thanks also go to Skagit Regional Health, specifically Bruce C. Mathey, MD, Oncology. Finally, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the entire care team at Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County.
In lieu of flowers, Cheryl’s family suggests donations in her memory to the American Cancer Society.
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