3/27/1944 ~ 5/11/2023
Our sweet mother, Cherryl Edith Shafter Wood Brinkerhoff, passed away on May 11, 2023 at Orchard View Assisted Living in Payson, UT, surrounded by her family. She was born March 27, 1944, in Fillmore, UT to Elmer Shafter and Edith Stott Shafter.
She grew up in Kanosh and Fillmore, graduating from Millard High School in 1962. She was sophomore class president and drum majorette. She excelled in academics and music, and especially loved the social part of school. Cherryl has stayed in contact with dozens of friends from high school, college, and her mission for her entire life.
At BYU, she studied Business Education and played the saxophone in the concert band for three years. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Wood on December 29, 1967, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They lived in Livermore, CA for the first 7 years of marriage, then made Holden their home. Robert passed away of cancer on August 2, 1998, at the age of 53. She married Dan Brinkerhoff on Oct. 2, 2010; he passed away on September 28, 2014.
For 43 years, Cherryl enjoyed the wonderful people in Holden. She worked at Duane’s Food Town in Fillmore for 23 years, where she had a loyal following of customers who would wait in a longer line just to be able to visit with her. She wrote the Holden News column in the Millard County Progress for 30 years. She loved jokes and funny stories, which she often included at the end of her column. She will always be remembered for her quick wit and fun personality. She loved fast cars, and was a two-time burnout champion at Old Capitol Days in Fillmore in her 60s.
Cherryl loved music. She played the saxophone in the Meadow Misfits Band, performed saxophone and piano solos at community events, played the organ at many funerals, and accompanied numerous musical numbers throughout the years. She was the ward organist in every ward she lived in since was 16 years old.
Cherryl was very active in the community, often serving in leadership positions for various organizations, including Fillmore Hospital Volunteers (Pink Ladies), East Millard Fine Arts Guild, General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Daughter of Utah Pioneers, and the Red Hats.
Cherryl was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served as Primary president, Relief Society counselor, Relief Society teacher, ward organist, and choir accompanist. Cherryl served an LDS Mission to London in 1966-67.
Cherryl is survived by her six children: Sean Wood (Desire’) of Delta, Bobbie Wood of Spanish Fork, Tiffany Blakely (Dean) of Spanish Fork, Todd Wood of Cedar City, TJ Wood (Sandra) of Holden, and Misty Anderson (Ryan) of Cedar City; 14 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; her brother Kirk Shafter of Mesa, AZ; and sisters Gwen Evans (Mike) of Fillmore, and Jayne Swapp (Edward) of Kingman, AZ.
She was preceded in death by her dad Elmer Shafter, mom Edith Stott Shafter Dearden, dad Boyd Dearden, husband Robert Wood, and husband Dan Brinkerhoff.
The family wishes to thank her many friends who were such a big part of her life, and the kind and caring staff at Orchard View Assisted living.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 12 noon in the Holden LDS ward building, 100 N 100 E, Holden, UT. A viewing will be held prior to services, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Holden Cemetery under the direction of Rasmussen Mortuary. Compassionate services will be performed by the Holden Ward Relief Society.
We love you mom and will miss you dearly. Heaven just got a little more fun.
The recorded services will be available for 60 days from date of services.
“Ch Ch Ch Cherryl”… Your darling mother would introduce herself to new people. We met in BYU classes and became fast friends. Her Uncle Steve was one of my favorites. I have such fond memories of Cherryl, including her winter wedding with Robert and being her Bridesmaid. She named Bobbie after me! There was always so much we had to share whenever we talked. We talked for our birthdays 27&28 March and I was coming to see her…. She will ever be in my heart. I love her dearly. May all of her family members feel her comforting love and the arms of Heaven about you….
Cheryl was certainly a pleasant person to be around so positive , friendly,and always had a smile and a funny story, she was a joy to be around loved my association with her. We want to express our sincere sympathy to her family and may you always enjoy the fond memories of her our prayers are with you at this time.