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Cherie Joanne Bobbitt, 63

Cherie Joanne Bobbitt (née Kendra) was born Jan. 20, 1956, in Culver City, Calif., to John and Joyce Kendra. She grew up in the Malibu Canyon hills, where she gained a love of the outdoors that would last a lifetime. After high school, Cherie moved with her family to Coeur d’Alene, where she would spend most of her adult life. In her 20s, adventure called and she spent some time traveling and working throughout Idaho and Montana, including a stint traveling through Europe.

Cherie’s 30s brought her the greatest loves of her life. She met and married David Paul Bobbitt, despite his friends declaring she was way too good for him. Cherie became step-mom to Dave’s three beautiful daughters: Kim, Windy and Rebecca. She said she always knew she was destined to be a boy mom. Nine months after Dave and Cherie wed, they welcomed David Vance Bobbitt and, 15 months later, Christopher John Bobbitt completed their family.

As the years went on, nothing brought as much joy to Cherie as being a wife and mother. She was the quiet force behind her family, always encouraging, unifying and loving. She showed up for her family and friends to celebrate the highs and mourn the lows, no matter the time or place. It was time spent with those she loved the most that made her light up. Cherie hosted dozens of people every year for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and countless parties in between. Even in her final days, nothing made her happier than being surrounded by her family.

As a Christian, Cherie had a giving heart. ‘Serving others is greater than serving yourself,’ was a motto she lived out. Though Cherie spent most of her days putting others first, in the time she had for herself she loved spending it with her animals, gardening and adventuring with her husband, mostly at their lake cabin in Priest Lake.

For 17 months to the day of her passing, on July 8, 2019, Cherie fought an aggressive form of leukemia. Through it all, she remained positive and inspiring. Fighting cancer is a roller-coaster ride, and no matter what was thrown at her she would reassure her family, “I have lived a wonderful life.” It’s hard to find the words to encapsulate all that Cherie was, and the legacy she will leave behind. If you never had the pleasure to meet her, know this: she was a living angel who found joy in all of life’s miracles and loved so deeply that you could feel it just by being around her. To know her was to love her.

Cherie is survived by her husband of nearly 32 years, David Paul; son, David Vance, his wife, Caiti; son, Chris; step-daughter, Kim Shaner and husband, Kenny; grandchildren, Cayle (Vonie), Taylor (Josh), Layne, Laycie (Patrick) and Paul; step-daughter, Windy Rudd and husband, Nate; grandchildren, Corey (Pheonix) and Cameryn; step-daughter, Rebecca Bobbitt and grandchildren, Ira and Matix; mother, Joyce Kendra; brother, Kurt Kendra; brother, Eric Kendra and his wife, Regina; nephews, Jacob and Luke and niece, Raeanna and sisters-in-law, Nancy Hite and Ruth Bobbitt. She is proceeded in death by her father, John Kendra.

Please join the family in a celebration ceremony at 1 p.m. on July 19, 2019, at Real Life Ministries, 1860 N. Cecil Road, Building 2, Post Falls, ID 83854, with a reception to follow. Memorials may be sent in Cherie’s name to the Good Samaritan Thrift Store. Contact store manager Nancy for donations, 208-661-4066. Donations can also be made online to the Kootenai Health Foundation in honor of Cherie and the nurses who cared for her.

English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please sign Cherie’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.