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In Memory of
Cheri Lynn
Umbarger (Swansey)
Umbarger (Swansey)
1958 - 2017
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Clark Family Funeral Chapel & Cremation Service
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Obituary for Cheri Lynn Umbarger (Swansey)
Cheri Lynn Umbarger, age 58 passed away peacefully on April 28th, 2017 at her daughter’s home in Jackson, Michigan, surrounded by her family after a brave and hard fought two- year battle with cancer. Cheri was born in Pontiac, Michigan on June 12, 1958 to Al and Dale Swansey, the youngest of four.
Cheri graduated from Harrison High School in 1976. She met her husband Randy Umbarger in 1973, when she was a freshman and he was a junior. He gave her his class ring on April 1 as what was supposed to be an April fool’s joke on a couple of girls. Needless to say, he never took his class ring back. They married September 2, 1978. Their daughter Heather was born in 1984.
Cheri worked briefly at the radio station WKKM Mighty 92 of Harrison. She then started what would become a lifelong career at Clare Gladwin Intermediate School District in 1979. She started work as a bookkeeper, working her way up to the human resources/payroll specialist before retiring in 2004. Cheri graduated from Northwoods University, Midland, Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She continued working for the RESD through contracted services until 2014. She worked briefly for Specialized Data Systems Inc. as a payroll system help technician before starting a job with the West Branch/Rose City school district as their payroll coordinator.
Cheri spent many years bowling on various leagues at Snowbird Lanes of Harrison, winning the ladies team league multiple years and mixed league multiple years. She was team captain multiple times. She loved bowling nights. She was briefly part of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association.
Her joy was hosting foreign exchange students. From 2007to 2013 they hosted 12 students, two a year from various countries. She taught the girls independence, gave them self-confidence and helped them grow into strong women. Cheri was a type of person that would pay for a stranger’s meal, just because. She would help anyone in need.
Cheri is survived by her husband, Randy Umbarger, her two daughters; Heather Reece and husband David and Susan Balthis, two sisters; Sandy Sias and husband Dave and Kaye Lundy and husband Ron, one brother, Larry Swansey and wife Diane, nieces and nephews; Dave Jr., Mike, Debra, Christine, Robert, Brett and Jesse, and her fur-babies; Chica, Sanchez and Riley, her grand-fur babies; Boston, Brooklyn and Bristol. Cheri was preceded in death by her parents; Al and Dale Swansey and her half- sister, Carol and her husband Otis Wilson.
Funeral services honoring Mrs. Umbarger will be held Friday, May 5, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. from Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison with Pastor Jim Young officiating. Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Stocking Funeral Home, and on Friday, May 5, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in Hamilton Township Cemetery, Harrison. Memorial gifts in memory of Mrs. Umbarger may be considered to: American Cancer Society-Bay Area Service Center, 1480 W. Center Road, Suite 1, Essexville, Mi. 48732. To share an online memory or condolence with Cheri’s family, please visit: www.stockingfuneralhome.com. Arrangements for Mrs. Umbarger are entrusted with Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison (989) 539-7810.
Cheri graduated from Harrison High School in 1976. She met her husband Randy Umbarger in 1973, when she was a freshman and he was a junior. He gave her his class ring on April 1 as what was supposed to be an April fool’s joke on a couple of girls. Needless to say, he never took his class ring back. They married September 2, 1978. Their daughter Heather was born in 1984.
Cheri worked briefly at the radio station WKKM Mighty 92 of Harrison. She then started what would become a lifelong career at Clare Gladwin Intermediate School District in 1979. She started work as a bookkeeper, working her way up to the human resources/payroll specialist before retiring in 2004. Cheri graduated from Northwoods University, Midland, Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She continued working for the RESD through contracted services until 2014. She worked briefly for Specialized Data Systems Inc. as a payroll system help technician before starting a job with the West Branch/Rose City school district as their payroll coordinator.
Cheri spent many years bowling on various leagues at Snowbird Lanes of Harrison, winning the ladies team league multiple years and mixed league multiple years. She was team captain multiple times. She loved bowling nights. She was briefly part of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association.
Her joy was hosting foreign exchange students. From 2007to 2013 they hosted 12 students, two a year from various countries. She taught the girls independence, gave them self-confidence and helped them grow into strong women. Cheri was a type of person that would pay for a stranger’s meal, just because. She would help anyone in need.
Cheri is survived by her husband, Randy Umbarger, her two daughters; Heather Reece and husband David and Susan Balthis, two sisters; Sandy Sias and husband Dave and Kaye Lundy and husband Ron, one brother, Larry Swansey and wife Diane, nieces and nephews; Dave Jr., Mike, Debra, Christine, Robert, Brett and Jesse, and her fur-babies; Chica, Sanchez and Riley, her grand-fur babies; Boston, Brooklyn and Bristol. Cheri was preceded in death by her parents; Al and Dale Swansey and her half- sister, Carol and her husband Otis Wilson.
Funeral services honoring Mrs. Umbarger will be held Friday, May 5, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. from Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison with Pastor Jim Young officiating. Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Stocking Funeral Home, and on Friday, May 5, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in Hamilton Township Cemetery, Harrison. Memorial gifts in memory of Mrs. Umbarger may be considered to: American Cancer Society-Bay Area Service Center, 1480 W. Center Road, Suite 1, Essexville, Mi. 48732. To share an online memory or condolence with Cheri’s family, please visit: www.stockingfuneralhome.com. Arrangements for Mrs. Umbarger are entrusted with Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison (989) 539-7810.
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