On Wednesday, August 20th, our community and the world suffered an enormous loss.

“She’s gone.”

Two syllables.  Two words.  One sentence no one wanted to believe would happen, did happen.  Cheryl Watters, our colleague, our friend, one of the kindest souls to walk our hallways, lost her battle with leukemia.  On Thursday, August 28, the Sahuaro auditorium filled with Cougars past and present, as well as family, friends, and colleagues, to celebrate the life and legacy of Mrs. Cheryl Watters.

Everyone in the auditorium that night already knew that Cheryl was a special kind of person. We walked in dressed in her signature look – a Graphic Tee and Chucks.  We walked out wanting to be better people because of who she was. Cheryl did not need accolades or any acknowledgement for her altruistic deeds. She gave freely, she gave selflessly, she gave constantly. We learned that Cheryl opened her home and her heart to several kids when they were at their lowest.  One student spoke of how he and his twin brother lost their mother to cancer while they were students at Sahuaro. Cheryl packed their lunch every day until they graduated. Another spoke about how Cheryl comforted her and her brother when their father suffered a tragic accident.  She would do anything to help lessen anyone’s pain.

She wrote students little notes of encouragement and compassion when she noticed them struggling. She cheered on students at seemingly every Fine Arts concert and performance, every game for every sport, and over every single accomplishment they achieved. She read all the articles in The Paper Cut. She baked banana bread and would arrive at school early to leave her baked goods on colleagues’ keyboards.  She counseled new teachers to hang in there; things will get easier.  She never judged.  She always listened like she had nothing more pressing to do, like she had nowhere else she was supposed to be.

Cheryl’s husband shared that they met when they were teenagers and never looked back. Together, Cheryl and Trei raised their two sons, Brannon and Cade.  They lived a spiritual life, staying active in their church, spreading the love and word of God. Cheryl remained inspiringly positive throughout her 16 months of treatment.  She texted her friends regularly, sharing anecdotes and silly memes. In retrospect, she probably didn’t want us to be sad. She didn’t want us worrying over her.

If anybody could have beaten this cancer, it would’ve been Cheryl. Surely, based on her kindness and good deeds, a miracle was in order. We all joined the Watters family in praying for that miracle.  Trei shared that perhaps the miracle was that she stayed with us a full year after her prognosis.  Perhaps the miracle was that she felt just strong enough for two days at the end, enabling them to come back home to Tucson from the hospital in Texas, where she was receiving treatments. Maybe the miracle was that when we gathered outside her window to cheer her on and welcome her home the day after she arrived, her well of energy at its lowest, she still had Trei bring her to the window so that we all could say our goodbyes. Perhaps the miracle was that we all got to have this angel touch our lives.

Cheryl loved Sahuaro, her home away from home for almost twenty years.  Plans are underway to set up a scholarship in Mrs. Watters name through our Cougar Foundation.  Sahuaro is also petitioning to have the library named in her honor.  Her legacy will live on.

Her Celebration of Life would have been endless if everyone whose life was touched by Cheryl had spoken.  Since that could not happen, The Paper Cut invites you to share how Cheryl Watters impacted your life in the comments section below.

Cheryl, you are a real angel now.  We know you are watching over us with wings on your back and Converse on your feet.

Mrs. Watters Top 10 List: What I’ve Learned During the School Closure (In no particular order)