Memories of Cheri Gray

Kathi Tarala

I keep her alive in my heart ❤️. I'm so sorry she past. She loved her large family.

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Russ Gray

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Kathi Tarala

2025, Cupertino, California, USA

Cheri and I have known each other since we were 12 years old. We'd have fun. We would each bake a cake the night before we would meet before school half way from each other's house and test each other's cake. Clean fun.

We also had sleep overs! We'd sneak out her bedroom window and go meet boys.

Cheri was part of my family. She would travel with us. She was always around.

I'm not sure where the name Felipe came from but it was our secret name for each other.

I'll forever love my Felipe!

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Russ Gray

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Jane Robinson Tanisawa

Always happy memories sailing on the cruises with Cheri and seeing Cheri at events. These memories are enhanced as we see the family grow. May her memory always be a blessing.

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Russ Gray

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Russ Gray

Jane, you are SO sweet to remember Cheri today. It's always bittersweet for me. I miss her and all that... Read more Jane, you are SO sweet to remember Cheri today. It's always bittersweet for me. I miss her and all that might have been, yet... Read more Jane, you are SO sweet to remember Cheri today. It's... Read more

Russ Gray

It's hard to believe it's been 4 years today since I held Cheri for the last time. Thankfully, God gave me a very personal and clear assurance that she's happy with Him, not missing a thing. Still, these anniversaries are reminders of the wonderful woman Cheri was and how much we all miss her. We keep her memory alive when we strive to live out her sage advice ... remember who you are and be a blessing. Thank you Cheri for living such an impactful life and being a blessing to me and all those who knew and loved you.

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Gabriel Riley

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Jane Robinson Tanisawa

Cheri has come to my mind very often over the past few years and to this very day. I continue to be inspired and encouraged by her example as a woman of God. I still have the mementos from her memorial with her sayings "Make Today Count" and "Be a Blessing" on my desk and on my purse. This is quite the challenge for me but thinking of Cheri and you all continue to motivate me toward those goals.

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Kristina Gray

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Amy Furchner

Happy Birthday Cheri! I know you and Nick are enjoying Heaven and you have met my family there! Celebrating with Jesus! Interestingly I was cleaning out an area off of my desk last night and found your celebration of life program. Made me stop and remanence of our times together and what you are doing in Heaven. Made me smile and cry all at once! Love you!! Amy Furchner

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Russ Gray

Jane Robinson Tanisawa

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Russ Gray

Another Christmas without you. It's still hard to be merry, but we're all trying. They say time heals all wounds. Perhaps. But like the wheels of justice, healing seems to move slowly. Thank you for all the great memories and traditions in our 43 Christmases together. Wishing you were still here, but learning to adapt to this new life. I miss you so much.

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Amy Furchner

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Jillian Sidoti

Hello Grays, Just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you and praying for you today. I hope you are doing well and discussing wonderful memories of Cheri!

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Russ Gray

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Russ Gray

It's been nearly a year, but I still miss you every day. I love you more now than ever. Living without you is so much harder than I ever imagined. I hope wherever you are is bliss. I'm only half alive without you.

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Ken Oliver

Amy Furchner

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Russ Gray

I still miss you every day Mrs. Gray. You were so much more amazing than I ever realized and I miss you so much more than I ever imagined. There are no words. Rest in peace my love.

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Debi Ciardella

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Julie Johnson

2020, Phoenix, AZ, USA

As I am sitting in the airport here in Phoenix waiting for my flight back to San Jose, CA. I have SO So many thoughts and reflections in my mind. Over the last two months I couldn’t bring myself to write anything because the pain of my loss (of course all our loss) is so raw. I still don’t want to allow myself to grieve because it hurts so much and is difficult and exhausting. But, as all who attended the Celebration of Life service know, Cheri always “took the bull (Goliath) by the horns” and dove right in to what needed to be done. I could speak of Cheri’s love forever. Her love for us, our love for her, her love for God, and her desire for all of us to know what that agape love is. Cheri- your mission is accomplished. We all know that love as experienced and shared at the celebration about you on Saturday Feb. 15th, 2020. This day has inspired so many thanks to all the people whom you loved so dearly. Rest in Peace Cheri with Our Lord, and know that your heart will go on, and you are here with us always and forever for generations to come. Thank you St. Cheri Lynn Ciardella Gray!😇❤️😘

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Kristina Gray

Staci Gray

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Staci Gray

Hi Mama,

We had the best party in honor of your life on earth and the entire time I kept thinking you were going to show up! It had your name written all over it.

There was laughter, fun, food, drinks and family! Everything about it said, “home with mama”. It’s the best place to be!

Dad gave an amazing presentation sharing what an incredible woman, mother, friend, daughter, and soul you were in human form. He captured your character, personality, passion, and love in such a beautiful way. He got a standing ovation for it … and it was really special!

You would’ve been shy about it, but I think right now your soul is glowing from it. 🌟

The only reason any of this was possible is because you were a soul worth celebrating in a BIG way! You made choices in life that demonstrated so much strength, character, courage, and unconditional love.

Each of your kids shared their favorite memories of you ... the ways in which you impacted our lives. Friends shared memories of how self-less and hospitable you were to them.

You were the perfect balance of grace, truth and unconditional love. You made heavy things beautiful. You made challenges worth growing from. You made achievements worth celebrating. You made my soul light up every time I saw you.

You were such a behind the scenes being on earth, but yesterday I think the world heard who you truly are. We knew we had an angel for a mother … and now the world knows too!

There’s no question in anyone’s mind you were the glue that held our family together and dad funded it. ;) And I think you’re more than that - I think you taught us how to be a family even without the main glue.

I think you modeled family in such a way that none of us will throw away what you worked so hard to hold together. You deserve more and we will honor you even when it’s hard. Because that’s what you always did ... you leaned in when it would’ve been easier to lean out.

Dad is creating WeLoveCheri.com so that the next 2 babies arriving will know why everyone is singing your praises. And of course, not just the next 2 but all the future babies bound to arrive. You would love it!

I miss seeing your smiling face, wrapping my arms around you, laughing until we can hardly breath, making plans, discussing our growth, sharing our future, and making memories.

You were celebrated with a crowd and we intend to do our best to continue celebrating you by speaking truth, offering grace, loving unconditionally, and upholding standards of excellence.

Thank you for giving me a model to mirror. I love you forever ❤️

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Russ Gray

Kristina Gray

Amy Furchner

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Russ Gray

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Gray. I'm sorry you're not here in person so we can celebrate together.

The grandkids are ALL here ... and we're going out tonight for a FUN night together to celebrate Christian's and your birthday. We're going to have a GREAT time to memorialize your love of family gatherings.

We're all busy preparing for your Celebration of Life service this Saturday. I'd hoped to do a big birthday party for you, but this is the next best thing. We have over 100 people coming to celebrate your life. It's going to be amazing ... just like you.

I love you SO much ... and I miss you SO much. Lord willing, someday I'll see you ... and hold you ... again. I'm doing my best to be strong until then.

Thank you for giving me the best of your life ... and making mine wonderful. You are the all time best.

Forever yours,

Mr. Gray

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Sam and Kari Maxwell

Kristina Gray

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Sam and Kari Maxwell

Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor both you, Russ, and Kim, have shared tonight. Praying... Read more Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor both you, Russ, and Kim, have shared tonight. Praying our Daddy God will... Read more Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor... Read more

Sam and Kari Maxwell

Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor both you, Russ, and Kim, have shared tonight. Praying... Read more Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor both you, Russ, and Kim, have shared tonight. Praying our Daddy God will... Read more Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor... Read more

Sam and Kari Maxwell

Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor both you, Russ, and Kim, have shared tonight. Praying... Read more Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor both you, Russ, and Kim, have shared tonight. Praying our Daddy God will... Read more Oh how full her heart must be with the love and honor... Read more

Kimberly Epp

What a special DAY!
Happy Birthday to Cheri Gray,
from Kimberly Kay❣️
We would always refer to each other
this way..
She would say,
Hi Kimberly Kay from Cheri Gray..
and I would say the same thing in reverse.
That was our tune.
We would laugh together about that.
I remember the surprise party she gave me for my 40th..it was Fairmont style service with a four course meal with a flaming fire dessert, REALLY?
It blew me away.
The fire 🔥 flames startled me! I never seen that before. She always put her heart into everything she did.
She never held back. It made me feel extremely special and loved.
I just know God is blessing her with a special ALL day birthday party for her...so let’s praise God for her life today..
I can’t wait to see her!

Another story was how clean and organized she kept her home!
It felt warm walking into her space.
She always had a ficus tree in the corner on the right hand side of her green sofa.. it hung white lights in it like Christmas year round. It was warm and cozy and very welcoming like her along with the presence of God. She so loved the Lord
and is now with Him, waiting for us.

She textured her house and I copied her. She painted her house a certain color I copied her. I wanted my home to be just as warm and cozy as hers! Couldn’t quite do it. Lol, Since then my colors have changed.
We had the most amazing time laughing at ourselves.
I have fireplace stories, restaurant stories and we would always hypothetically make up our own Christian movies! That’s another inside story.. Bottom line we would lol until we couldn’t breathe..
Epcot stories of laughter and love with her and her family while Stephanie and Stacy competed in gymnastics in Florida..
Oh! Can’t forget Home Cell Group stories of her opening up her home for the Word of God to be planted in our hearts and our children’s hearts. Russ had more notes in his Bible than I have ever seen. 😳
Blue Lake Springs in the summer a few times.. Homeschooling at her house with my boys. She made sure Jordan and Zack did their reading! 😡
Super strict with love.
She was right there as a friend to help me. She also supported Josh my first born by going to his boot camp graduation from the military! She was always there for me.
She also helped me organize an Open House for my business 5 years ago.
I didn’t want to do it.
She just gave me her loving look and said you have to. It was very successful!
She gave me a baby shower for Jordan and six months later I gave her one for Sean..
The theme was Fifth and Final.
I made a poster with that on it..for her.. It was a co-ed baby shower. So our husbands got to participate in what moms do. It was a blast!
Her brother Chris barbecued, I remember. I don’t think Joey was born yet..
So, many fun’s times..so many trying time as well. Our children were always at the heart of our conversations.
A mother’s heart fights for her family like she did and still is.
Thanks to Cheri, I will pray and do my small part to encourage her family and children like she did for me.
That’s the least I can do.
She will forever be loved and thought of every day, especially today.
The Good Lord allowed us to be a part of her life. I am THANKFUL for that!
LOVE YOU Cheri Gray,
from Kimberly Kay.
See you soon.

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Russ Gray

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Judy and Willie

Today is Christians birthday---and your grandson shares this day with your birthday. Thinking of your life of love and the wonderful grandma you were to all your grandkids!!
Happy Birthday Cheri!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERI.

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Russ Gray

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Judy and Willie

May the Lord bless all of you as you celebrate Cheri's life. The celebration will focus on may things but one this is sure---she loved her family, grandchildren and she loved the Lord. We can imagine her in peace as she watches over to all of you. She had a special gift of hospitality and she will live on in the hearts of all who ever had the privilege to meet her. God bless all of you!
Judy Pipkin
Willie Riley

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Russ Gray

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Judy and Willie

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Russ Gray

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Judy and Willie

Cheri will be remembered for her gift of hospitality, loving heart and her love for her family and friends.... Read more Cheri will be remembered for her gift of hospitality, loving heart and her love for her family and friends. She fought cancer... Read more Cheri will be remembered for her gift of hospitality,... Read more

Anita Szewczyk

2019, Arizona, USA

It's really emotional for me to write this right now! I'll try to make it short, but i need to share it with everyone. I will only have to keep myself from crying.

I need to share it because Cheri was so so special to me!

I have been one of her many treating physicians , she had aggressive form of lymphoma, (most aggressive there is) but she was fighting it to the end. That said many patients fight, but not like Cheri, what made Cheri so special, was she never complained, she was so brave, she never showed how much she suffered , she was always smiling, even in the end, always asking about other people. In the hospital everyone loved her, admired her, and was taking example of her!

I miss her and I always will! she though me a lot, how to take suffering, how to be brave, how to cherish every hour and every day of our life, and never complain.

I treat many patients with cancer on everyday basis, I have to tell you there aren't many patients like Cheri! She was special, kind, loving and so beautiful not only in person but in her heart.

May God Bless her soul, May she rest in piece with our Lord.
She will always remind in my prayers.

Russ
I'm sorry, you must miss her so much, it was such a struggle and fight, I'm sorry,
In all this, I can only imagine how hard it was for you all those months in hospital when i saw you, it's so hard to see your loved one suffer and you can't do much ( we tried! I'm sorry I was not able to do more) ! you both will always be in my heart

Love

Anita Szewczyk MD

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Michael Manthei

Staci Gray

Julie Johnson

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Staci Gray

Thank you Anita for sharing this! We love hearing how she blessed so many people. We miss her so much! Thank you Anita for sharing this! We love hearing how she blessed so many people. We miss her so much! Thank you Anita for sharing this! We love hearing ... Read more

Bill Mercer

Dear Russ and family,
I was stunned to learn of your loss and have been praying for you and your dear family daily!
I am praying with understanding: I too lost My Sweet Girl - Pam - in a similar manner 2-1/2 years ago.
I know Heaven is a busy place (I have this on good authority) but perhaps Pam has seen your Sweetie since she arrived!
It has been about 10 years since I last saw you and your family. We knew each other at Home Church and we share some mutual friends.
Praying daily for you and yours,
Bill Mercer

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Russ Gray

Kristina Gray

Staci Gray

Julie Johnson

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Brieana Moore

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Julie Johnson

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Pam Meier

I met Cheri at The Home Church when our daughters, Stephanie and Cheryl, became friends at 4 and 5 years old. Their close friendship for the past 30+ years brought our families together for so many life endeavors, events and to Cheri’s house to enjoy her amazing hospitality. We went to horse shows together, gymnastics competitions, and ended up living a literal hop skip and jump from each other in Evergreen. Cheri was always so self sacrificial. When I was swamped with trying to get a gymnastics business off the ground, Cheri offered to home school Cheryl, and we gladly accepted. I can’t think of a more wonderful teacher and role model for my daughter. This helped more than you could ever know in a challenging time for our family. Cheri and I didn’t get a lot of social time together, most of it being around kids, church, horses and gymnastics activities, but wherever Cheri was was brighter and lighter because of her presence. I am so looking forward to more of that special time I always wanted with her in our eternal home. Oh what a glorious day that will be! Please know, Russ, Stephanie, Staci, Ryan, Christina and Sean that I am praying for you and looking forward to seeing you at Cheri’s Celebration of Life.

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Russ Gray

Staci Gray

Julie Johnson

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Michael Manthei

I'll never forget being disarmed by Cheri the first time I met her. It was very evident she was an extraordinary person who was kind, loving, authentic, beautiful, and one of those rare people who radiated light from her eyes, smile and being.

Our hearts are heavy with everyone affected, especially Russ and family. We love you and consider it an honor to have known her during her time on earth, and we look forward to getting to know her even better on the other side.

Though her body live no more, her spirit and soul are as alive as they've ever been, in a realm closer than we usually imagine.

We love you

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Kristina Gray

Russ Gray

Staci Gray

Julie Johnson

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