Cheryl Ann Cecil

Cheryl Ann Cecil, 79, entered into the presence of Jesus Christ, her Savior and Lord, on January 1, 2024, at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana. She was born May 23, 1944 at Mennonite Hospital in Bloomington, Illinois to Eldon and Viola (Gerig) Roth. She spent the first five years on a farm that sat between her home church and the county cemetery until they moved to the town, of Gridley, Illinois. She graduated from Gridley High School in 1962.

Cheryl worked for Scripture Press in Wheaton, Illinois for a year before entering Illinois State University for two years.  While there, the Lord spoke to her to go to a Bible college. She entered Fort Wayne Bible College in Fall 1965 majoring in Christian Education and majoring in Missions. In 1966 she found the love of her life, Earl Cecil, to whom she was married in 1967 before they graduated in 1968.

After graduation, she began her life as a pastor's wife in Lafayette, Indiana followed by  Gridley, Illinois, Columbia City and Woodburn, Indiana before moving to Morton, Illinois.  During these years she served as a Sunday School and Bible teacher to all ages, Director of Women's Ministries for the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches of Fort Wayne, Indiana and for the Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission of Goshen, Indiana. In  2007 she earned her Professional Christian Writer's Certificate at Taylor University-Fort Wayne campus   Over the years, she wrote many articles for religious materials and contributed to a number of devotional books.  In 2014, she published her first book on grief, “Open the Floodgates” along with a companion study guide.

After moving to Indianapolis in 2012 she became a member of College Park Church where she served as a deacon, small group leader, Mom's Connection mentor and leader and Women's Bible studies teacher at church and in her neighborhood.

She is survived by her husband, Earl of 56½ years, children Angela (Andrew) Isbell, Lawton, MI; Aric (Tiffany) Cecil, Branson West, MO; Andrew (Erin) Cecil, Indianapolis, IN; April (Nathan) McClelland, Whitestown, IN. Thirteen grandchildren: Alex & Adria Isbell; Natalie, Owen, Chloe & Quinten Cecil; Amira, Charlotte & Leah Cecil; Asher, Zion, Zebadiah & Jude McClelland.  Brothers: Donald (Maureen) Roth, Sarasota, FL & David (Judy) Roth, Indianapolis, IN. Sister: Margery (Roger) Frey, Mesa, AZ and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Marilyn Oyer and brother-in-law, Richard Oyer.

Services will be held at College Park Church, 2606 West 96th St., Indianapolis, Saturday, January 13 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour before services. Interment following the service at Zionsville Cemetery, Zionsville, IN.

The service will be live-streamed:  https://www.yourchurch.com/info/weddings-and-funerals/live-stream/

Memorials may be given to College Park Church Global Missions (https://www.yourchurch.com/), Wheeler Mission (https://wheelermission.org/), Peoria Rescue Ministries (https://www.peoriarescue.org/), and Fort Wayne Rescue Mission https://fwrm.org/