Cheryl D. Holmes of Umatilla passed away in Hermiston on Oct. 16, 2020 at the age of 67.
She was born on March 15, 1953 in Spokane, Wash. to Roy and Beverly Penner Leader.
Cheryl lived in Priest River, Idaho as a child, where she began her elementary education. She moved to Umatilla in the mid-1960s and graduated from Umatilla High School in the class of 1971. After high school, she joined the U.S. Navy and served for three years. While in the Navy, she was the first woman to work in a Navy brig and was part of the first all-female color guard. After her honorable discharge, she returned to Eastern Oregon and lived in the communities of La Grande and Umatilla.
Cheryl worked for over 30 years for Lamb Weston at the Boardman plant, where she worked as a production lead. She retired on April 13, 2018.
Cheryl married Tom Holmes in La Grande in 1983, and from this union one daughter, Carrie was born. The couple later divorced.
Cheryl enjoyed taking trips to the Oregon coast and to Wallowa Lake. But she loved spending time with her family, especially her two grandsons.
She is survived by a daughter, Carrie Holmes (Andy Thomas); two grandsons, RJ and Rudger Thomas; brother, Butch (Martha) Leader; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Tommy.
A graveside service will be held for Cheryl at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Umatilla.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
