Cheryl Faye "Bigler" Mitchell

Cheryl Faye Mitchell, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend to all those that met her, passed away on September 7, 2025 at Ativo Assisted Living (Yuma, AZ), with her husband of 61 years holding her hand. She will be remembered for her kind and compassionate heart, her unwavering love for her family, and her witty sense of humor that made everyone around her smile. Her presence lit up every room, with her absence leaving a space that no one can fill.

Faye was born in Littlefield, TX on 7/11/1946, the second of four children to Emil and Margaret Bigler. She attended grade school in Floyd, NM and excelled in academics, graduating in the top of her class from Portales High School in 1964. Shortly after graduation, she married the love of her life, Travis Mitchell of Dora, NM, son of Gerald and Miriam Mitchell. The two moved to Yuma, AZ where Faye contently filled their first home with love and happy memories. After moving back to New Mexico later that same year to work on the family farm in Floyd, Faye's family grew to eventually include three daughters. Faye moved back to Yuma, AZ in 1972, where in addition to being an amazing wife, mother, and friend to many, she enjoyed working a variety of jobs over the next many years, both in and outside of the home. She was an accomplished seamstress, creating custom purses, clothing, and accessories. She had a knack for creating her many works of art. Her incredible talent and skills were admired by many, and continued well into the later years of her life where she honed her knitting/crocheting skills. Faye was smart and detail-oriented, which served her well in various bookkeeping and office jobs over the years. She was also an amazing cook, with her daughters so fortunate to have had a mother that taught them so much.

After spending more than a decade in Yuma, Faye moved to Washington state in 1984, trading those hot summer days for the cooler weather up north. Faye again created an amazing home for her family, with her new home in Sedro-Woolley bringing out yet another impressive talent… gardening! She had two green thumbs with an incredibly beautiful yard and garden. It was here in WA that Faye began serving in what was probably her proudest and most cherished role in life… Grandmother. She doted on all of her grandchildren who were the light of her life, and she enjoyed spending as much time as possible with each of them. The arrival of great-grandchildren only intensified the pride she felt in being the best grandma ever.

In 2005, Faye began her next adventure in life, embarking on retirement with her husband as full-time RVers, traveling across many states. She enjoyed working as a camp host at several RV parks, with her infectious smile continuing to brighten the day of all who were fortunate to meet her. Yuma County became her full-time home in 2017, residing in the Fortuna Foothills up until her death.

Faye was preceded in death by her mother, father, sister (Gayle Herron), and brother (Don Bigler). Faye is survived by her sister Karen Heflin; husband Travis Mitchell; daughters Diane Mayrant (Rande), Melissa Spradlin (Shanon), and Becky Darden (Mike); four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

No services will be held, with private burial at Saxon Cemetery in Whatcom County, WA.