Cheryl Anne Hargrave

Cheryl Anne Hargrave left this physical world on November 4, 2025, after a sudden battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. At every turn she was met with an obstacle, and she fought with everything she had but it was too much for her body.

Born on July 26, 1956, in Clinton, Indiana to Owen Hamilton and Margaret (Jackson) Hamilton, she arrived full of spunk and sass. She was blessed to live her life on the foundation of her childhood home on the red brick road. She was a 1974 graduate of Clinton High School. Every day was an adventure for her. A stranger to no one and friend to even the creepiest crawly critters, if you knew her, you knew an open door would be waiting for you with a welcoming smile and many stories. Cherly was genuine and had no filter. Those who loved her appreciated that and those who did not were irrelevant. She never tried to be anything she wasn't and always tried to be everything her family and friends needed in that moment. Her most treasured time was spent with family. Her grandkids always came first, and "Ma" showed up to any and every event they had. Her downtime was spent crocheting, crafting, painting, fossil hunting, and board games with grand kids. In her early years of being a mother, you could find many of her paintings and painted saw blades in homes all over Vermillion and Vigo County. She enjoyed baking and making treats for her kids when they got home after school. Her children also enjoyed many acoustic melodies strumming from her guitar throughout the years. Most favorites being Puff the Magic Dragon, Last Kiss, and Molly Malone. In the last 20 years she had dedicated her time to genealogy and ancestry, offering her time and talent to helping families from all over the United States find loved one's graves and family information. The last 10 years have been spent working with our local historical society, something that she was so compassionate about. Cheryl also spent many days in the woods, especially during mushroom season. It was nothing for her to wander off for a couple of hours then see her trekking back home along the field from the creek. She hosted holidays, egg hunts, Fourth of July's, Thanksgivings, and Christmas but her most favorite time of the year was Halloween. She would start decorating sometimes as early as August. Cheryl was a faithful Chicago Bears and Cubs fan throughout her life, always optimistic at the beginning of each season that "this is the year." A problem solver and go to person when you needed a hand or an ear, she was always there.

Cheryl joins her mother and father in heaven along with her little brother Charlie John. She leaves behind her husband Randy, married 48 years ago October 22, 1977. Her oldest daughter Randi (JB Mcfall) and sons Charlie (Lilly), and Tracy (Kelly). Also, her grandchildren and most greatest blessings, Damien, Ella, Jaeden, Hayden, Harmony, Victoria, Saylor, Alex Traylor (Matt), Gary Taylor, Trace Traylor, Charley Flowers, and Jocelyn Flowers. Four great-grandchildren and "Special daughters-in-law" Ariel (and Neil) Crider and Ashley Doan, and special nephew Ronnie Hargrave (Andrea) and their children Maelynn and Violet. She is also survived by her sisters Marty and Jean, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Laura and Jay Nicoson, Rick and Cathy Hargrave of Danville Indiana, Denny Hargrave of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Bob and Vickie Hargrave of Newport, IN and Jody Dugger Hargrave of Washington Indiana as well as several nieces, nephews extended family and a very amazing neighbor and good friend, Peggy Strobel.

Insert from friend George Sanquenetti whom we cannot thank enough for helping to keep her spark through post-retirement:

"I got to know Cheryl over the past 10 years through her research on John Chunn and Universal. It was in connection with the Chunn Cemetery restoration project. The history group Vermillion County Heritage Alliance started through conversations about wanting to obtain a historical marker on the native American village that once existed along the Vermillion River in the Cayuga area. I got Cheryl to join the group with her research on John Chunn. At Tim Yocum's suggestion, Cheryl and I presented the two projects to the County Commissioners and County Council for funding and support. We submitted the applications for the historical markers to the Indiana Historical Bureau in May 2024. Through the review by the Indiana State Library and Historical Board the Piankashaw application was accepted due to the priority given to minority groups by the Indiana Historical Bureau, but the Chunn application was denied. We then proceeded to order the Chunn historical marker from the vendor through our group. The dedication for the Chunn marker was held on October 11th, 2025, while the Piankashaw marker through the Indiana Historical Bureau was held up in delays. I'm glad that we were able to receive the Chunn marker in time for Cheryl to see showing the culmination of Cheryl's work.

Through the historical work Cheryl and I became good friends as we were working on historical projects through the Vermillion County Heritage Alliance. Research on historical projects for the group has been done by Cheryl and me. In August 2024, we selected officers for our group and Cheryl agreed to be the secretary. In our group texts the suggestion was made by a member of obtaining a commemorative plaque for Cheryl to go with the Chunn marker in Universal. This will be covered in our upcoming group monthly meeting."

Honoring Cheryl's wishes cremation has been chosen, and a celebration of life is being planned for a later date. Final arrangements have been entrusted to Frist Funeral Home.

Online condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.fristfuneralhome.com.