Cheryl Kay Sowers' Obituary
Cheryl Kay Sowers, affectionately known as Shug, Shugie or Shugar, passed peacefully the evening of January 16, 2024. She was surrounded by family in the ICU after an 8 weeklong battle with interstitial pneumonia. Shug is an organ donor and she will go on to be a hero to others in death just as she was in life. Many thanks from all our family to the fantastic staff at Ogden Regional who took exceptional care of Shugie!
Born in Ogden UT, August 13, 1954 to parents Chuck and JoAnn Panter, she received her nickname Shug from her sister who had a difficult time saying Cheryl. She was preceded in death by mother JoAnn Nelson, and brother Randy. Survived by husband Richard “Dick” Sowers, siblings Judy (Lonnie) Delzer and Curt (Elizabeth) Panter.
She was so very proud of all her children and grandchildren. Jake (Maryann) Wayman, Sara (Cullen Carrick) Wayman, Jenny (Taylor) Hansen. Holli (Dave) Dunn, Sherrie (Majid) Sotoodeh, Jenny Cramer, Lisa Wilcox (deceased), Tori Draper and Danielle Pierce. And all her nieces and nephews she loved like her own kids.
Grandchildren: Alexis, Sierra, Justice, Laileih, Park, Case, Wade, Charlee, Buddy, Danny, Britnee, Ashton, CJ, Addison and Dallas.
An avid skier she loved to say the phrase “there are no friends or Grandmas on Powder Days.” In truth though, she would drop anything for her grandkids and loved them more than words. Loved by all she was most loved by her grandkids and the many kids she took under her wing to share the love of the mountains.
Shugie was and will continue to be a legend to so many people. Her parents started working for Powder Mountain when she was young. Her father, Chuck introduced her to a lifelong love of skiing. Her mother, JoAnn taught her to welcome everyone like family and to be inclusive. Her passion of legendary skiing earned her the ski run at Pow Mow named aptly “Shug’r Bowl”. Experts only!
She loved everything outdoors, in addition to being an expert skier she had a brief but passionate affair with snowboarding. Summers in her youth were spent at Pineview reservoir water skiing and camping. She enjoyed hiking, mountain biking and in the last few years she put thousands of miles on her cross-country e-bike up at Sunridge Highlands, where she and Dick purchased a cabin to get away from the city and enjoy the peace of the outdoors. They even added a small snowcat so they could backcountry ski. She claimed the tag line “Live the Love and Love the Ride.” And truly lived it!
Never straying far from the adventurous Ogden Valley she also grew up in Ogden, having graduated from Ogden High where she got into plenty of shenanigans with her BFF Pam. Shug had too many amazing friends to list here but you know who you are.
She faced many challenges through her life but was never afraid of hard work. Her various dangerous and bold careers included Ski Patroller, Water Meter Reader and HOA Manager. She was often seen at Grandview Acres driving the old orange dump truck making sure the neighborhood was clean from debris and hazards.
She was introduced to her other true love, Dick Sowers by his sister Barb. Barb told Dick that Shug was very healthy and active, hearing this Dick didn’t want to bring the traditional candy or chocolates on their first date, so he brought her a giant raw potato all decorated. That sweet gesture, along with the fact he could keep up with her on skis sealed the deal and they eloped to Las Vegas on January 4th of 1996. Just days after Shug’s parents celebrate their wedding anniversary.
She will be missed and we know she is being welcomed by her mother JoAnn and brother Randy and will be taking endless turns down the fresh powder on Shug’r Bowl and dancing on the tables in the Powder Keg of our hearts!
A celebration of life will be held the week of March 17, exact date tba. In lieu of flowers please support the YCC, 2261 Adams Ave, Ogden Ut 84401. www.yccogden.org. 801-394-9456
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