Cheryl D. LeFort

Cheryl Diana LeFort was born July 13th, 1956 in Wichita, KS daughter of Theresa and Ray Ward.  The family moved to Derby, Kansas in 1963 where Cheryl grew up and attended school.  She was a very hard worker and began working in High School and bought her first car, a 1976 red Ford Pinto.  She worked in the nursing home for over 30 years. She loved her residents and took exceptional care of them and they all become like family to her.  Don joked saying she loved her residents and coworkers so much that she would one day just move in there so that she could clock out and go straight to her room, 

          Cheryl met and married James Donavon Lefort on Novermber 9, 1990 .  Brought to this union one son, Bobby, and one daughter, Sandra.  Cheryl loved both Bobby and Sandra as her own and would give either of them her shirt off her back.  Don and Cheryl were happily married for 32 years.  Cheryl's husband Don liked to tease her by calling Cheryl "Granny whooper snooper" Or "What’s the Troubles, Bubbles" in front of the kids.  The grandkids picked up quickly to that and started teasing their grandma by calling her "Granny Whooper Snooper."   

          In Cheryl's free time she loved going to the movies and getting her nails done. Grandma Cheryl has taken her grandkids to plenty of movies over the years.  The kids all have memories.  There was no doubt that Cheryl LOVED her movies.  Being at the theater was her happy place. Mida recalls her always having a salt shaker and a blanket on hand. Her grandson Cruz laughed remembering his grandma Cheryl taking him and her overfilling her slushy cup. Cheryl would pick up her great nephew Landon and call him her boyfriend and take him on a date to the movies.  She loved spoiling her grandkids, nieces, and nephews. 

          Cheryl loved to crochet blankets.  Her niece, Tabatha, fondly remembers one time Cheryl made a trip to Wichita to give her and her sister blankets she crocheted.  She made them as owls because they all loved owls just like their grandma Theresa and made them purple which was Cheryl’s favorite color. 

She also had a GREAT love for her pets. Especially her Shih-tzu. She loved them like her babies and grieved when she would have to say goodbye to one. Her puppies loved her two and have sensed the loss of their MOMMY.  Cheryl shared her love of dogs with several family members.  Her daughter in law, Jess, her nieces Megan and Terra each have a puppy from the same line. Her dog, Pepper is the grandfather to all 3 dogs.  She often called or texted to ask for pictures of the puppies.  Her niece Terra called to be sure someone was still loving on her babies because she was sure Aunt Cheryl would want her to check.

               Cheryl will be remembered as being a loving wife, loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend whose honest wisdom was often called upon.  Along with her advice you could count on Cheryl to crack a joke, which inevitably followed with her laugh. Cheryl had a fun, outgoing personality. She was a very strong and independent woman.   She will be greatly missed by all who knew her! Cheryl had a fun, outgoing personality.  She was strong and very independent with a HUGE heart for her family. Her grandson Shae when asked what he remembered about his grandma he said "Her hilarious laugh! It was so contagious! It made me laugh."  Cheryl always had to make sure to get a photo next to Shae each time she saw him cause she knew he would outgrow her.  Shae did in fact outgrow Cheryl and she still wanted a photo next to him each time she was with him.  

Cheryl was a member of AA for many years. She worked hard to keep her sobriety. She loved her AA family and one was most proud of her husbands sobriety. She loved celebrating him. She always put others before herself. And was her husband's biggest cheerleader!

          On April 17, 2023 Cheryl went to be with Jesus at the age of 67.  She was preceded by death by her parents; Ray and Theresa Ward. Nephews Travis and Brannon Ward and brother Randy.  In laws Robert and Elenore LeFort and nephew Trevor Rempe.