Cheril E. MacArthur (Humphries)

Cheril E. MacArthur (Humphries) passed away at home on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at the age of 69, due to a stroke suffered four days earlier.  For the past 15 months, she has battled advanced colon cancer that had spread to several organs and bones.  She faced chemotherapy, radiation treatment, multiple surgeries, and a decline in her physical capabilities with courage, faith, and an indomitable spirit.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Estella MacArthur, and brother, Sumner.  She is survived by three brothers and sisters-in-law, Creig (Lisa), Steven (Sandra), Trevan (Sondra), and her four children, Christian (Liliana), Shersti, Kari and Rebecca Thompson, and granddaughter Valerie, and a daughter from a former marriage, Kristina (Patrick) Gomez, and grandson's, Max and Sam Gomez, and numerous loved nieces and nephews.

Cheril was born May 15, 1949, to Arthur and Estella MacArthur in Provo, Utah.  She grew up in Provo, attending school at Provo High through her junior year.  She spent her senior year and was a member of the first graduating class at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where she lived with her oldest brother Creig and his family.  She was a majorette at “TC”, the school made famous in the movie “Remember the Titans”.  She moved back to Provo to attend Brigham Young University, where she also performed as a majorette with the university marching band.

Cheril was an energetic and tireless worker.  She started her career at the telephone company at age 19, and worked for over 30 years in Provo, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Idaho Falls, starting as a switchboard operator, and retiring as a senior manager.  After retiring, she was an office manager in her brother Creig’s medical practice.  For the past 11 years she’s been an enthusiastic real estate agent in the Salt Lake area and she helped her last client a month before her passing.

Cheril married Chris Thompson in 1969 and had four children: Christian, Shersti, Kari, and Rebecca.  Motherhood was one of her greatest joys in her life.  After a divorce, she married Ed Humphries, and became stepmother to four additional children: Greg, Sara, Kristina, and Spencer Humphries.  After divorcing Ed, she never remarried.  She became a mother / confidante / counselor to multiple colleagues, friends, even customers that faced significant life challenges.  She loved people and cared a lot about them and their problems, and celebrated their victories.  She had an exceptional ability to recognize the needs of others and valued helping anyone around her, and knew what it meant to deal with substantial challenges and setbacks.  She lived to help and lift people.

She was an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which was the foundation for how she lived her life.  One of her favorite places to be was in the temple.  She loved serving in the Young Women, Primary, and Relief Society organizations – those she worked with, and those she oversaw.  Cheril loved the gospel and shared its tenets by her example.

Cooking was a beloved avocation.  Specialties were turkey and pot roast dinners, and baking homemade bread, rolls, cookies, pies, and cakes.  Sewing was another significant talent.  She started when young, making clothes for herself and her mother.  In high school, she won first place in a national sewing competition.  She continued to make clothes for her children, extended family, friends, and occasionally herself until she no longer could, due to health limitations.

When Cheril was around, everyone’s mood and outlook was significantly brighter.  Challenges weren’t nearly as bad as they had seemed.  And you knew things would be happening if she were around.  She loved exercising with friends every morning at 5 am, jogging, lifting weights, attending boot camps, and walking.  She was always busy working, taking classes, reading, attending conferences, and doing something kind for someone she knew could use a boost.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to the many doctors, nurses, and staff that cared for her at the Intermountain Medical Center, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Hospitals, and John A. Moran Eye Center.  Also to her dear friends, family, and work associates that provided love and support in so many varied and truly helpful ways.  Bless you all.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 10:30 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Butler Stake Meeting House located at 7035 S. Nutree Drive, Cottonwood Heights, Utah.  A viewing will be held on Wednesday evening, December 19, from 6 to 8 pm at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City.  Another viewing will be held from 9 to 10 am at the church building prior to the funeral services.  Interment will be at Provo City Cemetery located at 610 S State Street, Provo, in the late afternoon.