Cheryl Oehlert

Surrounded by love, Cheryl Sue (Cowan) Oehlert, 60, slipped away peacefully on March 10, 2016 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She grew up near High Gate, MO, the middle child of Robert Elmo and Ella Mae (Smith) Cowan. She graduated from St. James High School (1973), and the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Business (1977). Following graduation, Cheryl moved to South County St. Louis where she remained her entire life. ?Combining her business and creative skills, Cheryl affectionately became known as "The Bow Lady", transforming her kitchen table hobby into a popular hair bow business for children's fashion accessories and customizing orders to match school uniforms and party attire. No order was too large or too specialized for her abilities as the creator, founder, and producer. Idleness was a foreign concept to Cheryl, and no task was too daunting for her to master. She and Don were equal partners in refurbishing and renting homes to many appreciative tenants. Cheryl always enjoyed bringing friends and family together around good food and shared fun. As an avid card player, she was a great partner and a tough opponent. Loving and nurturing (her grandson) Harrison was her ultimate joy, even flying to be at his birth while undergoing her chemo treatments. As a university student, Cheryl made lifelong friends. This special group of Mizzou women and their spouses continued their relationship for 43 years holding annual reunions to celebrate life milestones of each family. ? Survivors include devoted husband Don Oehlert, loving children Shawn (Sarah) Cowan, Robyn (Derek) Stanley and grandson Harrison Stanley all of St. Louis; stepchildren Kimberlyn (Craig) Tihen, Jeffery (Jenny) Oehlert, Elizabeth (Jeff) Buchanan, step grandchildren Zack and Paige Tihen, Sydney Oehlert, Leigh and Kyle Howard, Halie and Piper Buchanan. Surviving siblings include Jo Ann (Weldon) Webb of Columbia, MO, Rena Cowan of Pleasant Hill, OR, Robert, Jr. (Suzanne) Cowan of Germantown, TN, Dwight (Patricia) Cowan of Little Rock, AR, and Eric (Lynn) Cowan of Kirkwood, MO plus numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, younger sister Leita Scott, and step brother-in-law Ron Oehlert. The Services to celebrate Cheryl's life: the visitation and funeral will be at John L. Ziegenhein & Sons Funeral Home-South County St. Louis. The visitation will be held on Sunday, March 20th from 3:00 -9:00 pm. The funeral will be held on Monday, March 21st at 10:15 am followed by 11:15 am burial service at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Cheryl's honor can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides Walk: Harrison's Heroes. (http:/www.cff.org). Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. March 20, 2016
03:00 pm - 09:00 pm
John L. Ziegenhein & Sons South County
4830 Lemay Ferry Road (63129)
March 21, 2016
10:15 am - 10:45 am
John L. Ziegenhein & Sons South County Chapel
4830 Lemay Ferry Road (63129)