Cheryl Smith

Livestream

Cheryl Smith, age 81, formerly of Broken Bow, NE, passed away July 19, 2025, at the Kinship Pointe Northridge Assisted Living in Kearney, NE.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow. Burial will follow in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Family for future designation. A visitation and time to greet the family will be held on Friday, August 8th, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online words of remembrance or condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com.

Cheryl Eilene (Bailey) Smith was born on June 19, 1944, in Sargent, NE to Karl Lynn and Nola Angeline (Grim) Bailey. She was the first of seven children: Neil, Jacki, Tom, Joy, Nels, and Angela. Cheryl was considered a second mother to her siblings. She attended Tufford Elementary School. Cheryl was the Valedictorian of Custer County at the end of 8th grade. She then attended Ansley High School with the class of 1962.

Cheryl was united in marriage to Phillip DeLoss Smith on July 9, 1961, in Ansley, NE. Soon, in this union, they were blessed with three sons, all 13 months apart. Leslie was born in January of 1962, Robert joined the family in February of 1963, and Russell completed the family in March of 1964.

Cheryl was a people person. This led her to a career of working with a wide range of people. She started her working career at Becton-Dickinson, then became a salesperson at KCNI/KBBN radio station, where she eventually became the station manager. At the end of her career, she was the director of the Broken Bow Housing Authority. The last two jobs allowed Cheryl to travel and meet people all over the United States. Traveling the United States and meeting people were two passions that fulfilled her life with many memories and good friends.

During her lifetime, she was involved in many community organizations. Some of them were the Jaycees, where she was the Outstanding Young Woman of the Mrs. Jaycees. She was also a member of the Berwyn United Methodist Church, where she was the treasurer. She was also the Clerk of the Berwyn Town Board, as well as a member of the Berwyn School Board. Other organizations she was associated with were Toastmasters, Ambassadors, Custer County Development, Nebraska Broadcasters, PHADA, and the Salvation Army.

Cheryl had many hobbies. She loved watching all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s many activities. She also enjoyed bird watching, especially bald eagles and Sandhills cranes. Another love was collecting carnival glass, salt & pepper shakers, and other depression glass. After Cheryl moved to Kinship Pointe in Kearney, NE, she could be found playing pitch, bingo, sipping wine, and enjoying her new friends, but the time she spent at North Park school reading and spending time with the first-grade students for many years was one of her most rewarding memories being Miss Cheryl to so many of the kids.

Cheryl is survived by sons Robert (Teresa) Smith and Russell (Paula) Smith all of Broken Bow, eight grandchildren; Keith (Kailey) Smith of Bellevue, Colton (Tiffany) Smith of Kearney, Chelsea (Ryan) Prochnow of Hastings, Remington Smith of St. Paul, Patrick (Haven) Smith of Holdrege, Tyler (Mandy) Smith of Odessa, Jordan (Logan) Dowhy of Kearney, and Hunter (Emily) Smith of Lincoln, 11 great-grandchildren; Daniel, Claire, Eli, Creighton, Peyton, Laikyn, and Stetsyn Smith, and Morgan, Rivie, Bronx, and Phillie Dowhy, three brothers; Neil of Utah, Tom of Burwell, and Nels of Minnesota, and two sisters; Jacki of Florida and Angela of Colorado, step siblings Darlene, Naomi, and Donnie.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Nola, husband, Phil, son Leslie, and a sister, Joy.