Cheryl K. Decker Davis

Cheryl Kay Davis left this earthly realm peacefully Saturday, October 14^th surrounded by family.  She was 53 years young – a beautiful soul gone too soon. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, October 21^st at 10:30 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa. Burial will be at the Chariton Cemetery following the service. Family will receive friends on Friday, October 20^th, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home.  Memorials may be made in care of Cheryl’s family and will be designated at a later date.

Cheryl never met a stranger. She lit up any room she walked in. You never saw Cheryl not dressed to the nines. She had a sense of style that people envied. It was very common for friends and strangers alike to ask her where she got what she was wearing. Often times, you would hear people ask if she would go shopping with them to help them pick a new outfit out. She took great joy in assembling outfits for others, especially her children.

After graduating from Iowa School of Beauty, Cheryl was blessed to begin her career as a cosmetologist in Chariton, Iowa, where she spent 26 years pampering others and providing them their own sense of style. Her kids would ride the bus to the shop nearly every day after school and hangout until her day was over. It’s almost like they grew up there. They were surrounded by the love of her adopted family. The loving friendships she built didn’t end just because she moved South, the shop girls remained in close contact right up until her passing. In June, Myra, Tammy, and Jan packed up and came down for a visit to Cheryl’s home. It was a fun-filled 4 nights of laughter and story-telling that would have made you think they were four school girls fresh off of summer break.

Family was the most important thing in the world to Cheryl, especially her children and grandchildren. She loved going back home to Iowa whether it was for the holidays or for a short weekend. She was looking forward to the day that her husband, Brent, retired so she could move back to be closer to her friends and family. Luckily, we live in a world of technology and FaceTime allowed us to see each other when we spoke so it felt like we were there with her. Each visit from family and friends provided joy beyond what words can express for her.

As her time grew shorter, Cheryl and Brent discussed more and more the importance of her children, Jennifer, Abigail, Brett, and Zoe and all the joy they brought to her life. Cheryl shared many stories of her favorite pastimes with her kids and each one gave her a smile from ear to ear. She especially loved the time she got to spend with her grandchildren. She was always spoiling them when she visited, whether it was going to the movies, ice cream dates or taking them shopping. A greater love was never known than the love she held for her children and grandchildren.

Cheryl loved to clean house, almost as much as her sister Kristie. It was normal for them to be talking about cleaning products. As they would hang up the phone, it would end with Kristie saying, “well I have to go, it’s time for me to clean house.” Cheryl would reply, “you just did that yesterday. Your house is clean.” They would laugh and the conversation would happen again the next day.

Her entire family knew she was strong but had no idea how strong she was until her battle with cancer began. She fought through weekly treatments of having poison injected into her body and stood strong through it all. Even though time went on and cancer began to take over her body, she never complained once. She turned to God for her strength and always viewed things in a positive manner regardless of how much she was hurting. Her will to live was undeniable. When her body no longer allowed her to attend church, once again technology saved the day, and she was able to stream it on TV. She spent her mornings in devotional reading bible verses and never missed a day.

Her last spoken words to her family were “I love you all and I will see you again.”

Cheryl was preceded in death by her father, Ivan Decker; sister, Kathy Decker; brother in-law, Tim Davis; grandpa, Reinhold Decker; grandparents, Harriette and Fred Conner; grandparents, Cleo and Wilma Thompson; and special aunts: Velta Allen, Jeanine Thompson and June Seuferer.

Cheryl is survived by her husband, Brent Davis; children: Jennifer (Jeremy) Brown, Abigail (Derek) Vermeer, Brett Braida, and Zoe Davis; stepchildren, Bryce Davis and Emma Davis; mother, Eva Decker; mother-in-law, Terry Davis; grandchildren: Ellie Dittmer, Ayden, Emmitt, Ashlynn and Emilea Brown; siblings, Brian Decker and Kristie (Brian) Davis; nephew, Logan Davis; nieces: Tylyn Northup, Triston Miller, Taheton and Tieganne Decker; special cousins, Lori (Jimmy) Keller and Carrie (David) Oxenreider; special uncle-in-law, Joey (Dana) Kleinklaus; beloved Goldendoodle, Phoebe; and too many other close friends to list.