On October 4, 2007, Cheryl Shepherd of Edmonton, Alberta passed away at the age of 48 years.
She will be deeply missed by her partner of 22 years, Deb Turner, family, friends and co-workers. Cheryl was an avid soccer player, coach of the Edmonton Roughnecks and a youth counselor in her younger days. In 1986 she moved to Calgary for three years where she started Project Pride with the late Jordan Rutherford. The group hosted the city’s first Gay Pride Parade and helped send dozens of people to Gay Games in 1990. Back in Edmonton Cheryl turned her talents to counseling at Henwood, sang in the Edmonton Vocal Minority and hosted a women’s coming out group. Cheryl may have lost her battle with cancer but won the hearts of many in a life filled with love and laughter.
A Celebration of Cheryl’s Life will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at Hainstock’s Funeral Home, 9810-34 Avenue, Edmonton.
-from Tuesday’s Edmonton Journal [sorry to have missed this - I would have posted it sooner]
So very sad! I have such fond memories of Cheryl and was wondering why she didn’t attend the reunion. It sounds like she accomplished a lot of wonderful things in her all too short life. She will be missed by many, I’m sure.
Cathy
I will always remember Cheryl as the person with a big hello and a smile in the hallway. Regardless. Cathy is right to say that she took on the big causes – with a big heart and much courage.
I remember Cheryl giving herself the name “Short Stuff” – sometime in high school! She always had a big smile when calling herself by that name!
Her name came up many times in the reunion planning and at the reunion.
I hope she left this world knowing she made a difference.