Cheryl loved to garden, so in lieu of flowers and only if you feel inclined to do so, you can make a donation below. We will be collecting and organizing with the Desert Botanical Garden to create a Tribute Tile in her honor.

With heavy hearts and great sadness, we regret to say that Cheryl Ann Cruttenden passed unexpectedly, but peacefully in her sleep on August 20, 2023, at the age of 67 shortly after her cancer diagnosis.

Cheryl was born on July 19, 1956, in Pontiac, Michigan, to George Washington Ehgotz and Carol Ann Cece.  She was the oldest of five children growing up in Highland, Michigan.   

Being raised in the ‘50s and ‘60s in a small Michigan town, Cheryl’s childhood was amazing (one of her favorite words). There were over 50 kids on Helen Street where everyone got to know each other because you walked to school. There were little parades on bicycles all decorated (including cards attached to the spokes with clothespins), endless games like Red Rover, and everyone played until the street lights came on. This simple lifestyle created special memories of days gone by.

Cheryl graduated with honors from Milford High School in 1974. She was active on student council, a cheerleader all four years, and homecoming queen her senior year. Her beauty was visible on the outside, but most importantly radiated from the inside and touched all that knew her.

In 1976 she welcomed her first child Jason Lee Hunter. Cheryl and Jason enjoyed trips to Grandpa and Grandma’s house, ice cream shops, and special dates to A&W. Eight years later she moved to Milford, Michigan, where her family grew with the addition of Megan Ann Pawelski in 1984 and Margo Ann Pawelski in 1985. Their childhood was filled with walks downtown, playing in the park next to their house on Hickory Street, and lots of love and laughter. Cheryl was always passionate about decorating and designing her homes. The Hickory Street house was featured on the Milford Home Tour in the early ‘90s. She was a gifted and talented interior designer for her homes and many others.

Cheryl had an impressive 30+ year career at Art Van Furniture. In that time, she achieved numerous accolades at each level including Pure Sleep Manager of the Year award and one of the 20 Best & Brightest. Her favorite position was sales manager, as she loved to find and develop talent. She took over the 75-person Novi sales force in 2011. She increased sales from $28 million to $40 million earning the title of the only two-time Sales Manager of the Year (2011, 2012).

She loved her work, but all that changed in September, 2017 with the birth of her second grandson Henryk Carver, also known as the “tipping point.” Cheryl was decisive and moved fast. She quickly sold or gave away most of her possessions and packed up the remaining belongings from her custom-built home on family land located between her sister and brother in Hartland, Michigan. As a 61-year-old, she convinced her husband Todd to move from rural Michigan, where she spent her entire life, to Phoenix, Arizona 2000+ miles away and retire as a full-time grandma. We believe this to be her greatest accomplishment.

As her husband Todd confessed, her last five years of life were her favorite chapter, as she was able to enjoy retirement and spend time with her daughters Megan and Margo, son-in-law Brent, and her grandson Henryk. Time was spent outside in the garden, house projects, redesigning and redecorating.  In the past year she discovered her love for exercise and found an amazing community with her Silver Sneakers crew. She truly was living her best life and loving it!   

We are completely devastated by the loss of Cheryl. She will be deeply missed every second of every day. Her kindness and generosity went far beyond material things. She was very giving of her time, energy, and love. She was a dynamo; her energy would light up any room and she somehow made every human interaction with anyone memorable. She made the simplest things in life the most exciting. We all have a little Cheryl in each of us through the memories we hold dear. I encourage all of us to channel our inner Cheryl and remember to bring her joy back to the world. In the words of her beloved husband, “The brightest star, the kindest heart, and the sweetest wife and mother.”