Cheryl Hightower

Cheryl Lynn (Blair) Hightower was born to Keith and Madylon Blair in Houston, Texas on November 6, 1945. Cheryl’s parents divorced when Cheryl was very young, and she was raised in Houston by her mother and grandparents.

In her senior year of high school Cheryl met Steven (Steve) Hightower and they became “high school sweethearts,” dating throughout their senior year. One of Cheryl and Steve’s favorite stories about this time was “At one point while we were going steady, Steve’s parents asked him “Don’t you want to try dating someone else?” Steve’s reply was “No, I think that I got it right the first time!” And he did as Cheryl and Steve were lifelong sweethearts.

After high school, Cheryl attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1967 with a degree in Elementary Education. Steve attended and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in History and Government, and an Army commission as a 2^nd lieutenant. Cheryl and Steve married on June 15, 1968 so, they had just celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary this year. When Cheryl married Steve, she became an “Army wife,” of which she was extremely proud, and remained so for 30 years until Steve retired from the Army in 1998 as a colonel.

Cheryl loved Texas A&M and the Aggies, and she had always wanted to be an Aggie, going as far as to frame her “t.u.” diploma in Maroon! Fortunately, the Army gave Cheryl that opportunity by sending Steve to Bryan / College Station to teach ROTC and get his Master’s degree. Cheryl received her Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M in 1977 alongside Steve, so Cheryl “officially” became an Aggie. She was enormously proud to be able to wear her own Aggie ring.

During Steve and Cheryl’s 30 years in the Army they lived and worked in some “interesting” places including overseas assignments to Germany, as well as to the American Embassies in Kingston, Jamaica and Quito, Ecuador. Cheryl worked for the US Department of State as a mental health officer at these two embassies. Along their “journey” they had two wonderful children, Chris and Hope.

After Steve retired from the Army, Cheryl and Steve returned to College Station where Cheryl worked as an Elementary teacher and librarian at Allen Academy. She enjoyed her experience at Allen and being able to touch so many lives. Cheryl knew that there is more to life besides work (no matter how meaningful) so, when Cheryl retired from teaching, she was able to devote more time to her favorite things; her grandchildren, genealogical / ancestry research, and gardening. One of Cheryl’s proudest accomplishments was to be admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the 1812 Society and, most recently, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). So, Cheryl knew who “her people” were and was immensely proud of the fact that they were pioneers in the settling of America, particularly Texas.

As a devout and lifelong Christian, Cheryl attended Central Baptist (later Central) Church where she volunteered in the church’s “Flourish” program for physically and mentally disabled children and young adults.

Cheryl was a devoted and loving wife of 55+ years, mother of two wonderful children, and “Nana” to two equally wonderful grandchildren, Emily, and Grant.

Cheryl passed away and into the arms of God while gardening on Saturday, July 8^th, 2023.

She is sorely missed by everyone who knew her, particularly those of us who loved her most: her husband, Steve; children, Chris and wife Carrie, and Hope and husband Cory; grandchildren, Emily and Grant; as well as her brother in law, Mark Hightower.

Given Cheryl’s love of gardening and beautiful flowers and plants, the family has asked that she be honored in the gift of flowers.