Cheri Coulon

March 20, 1948 – November 8, 2024

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Cheri Coulon, born on March 20, 1948, in Dallas, Texas, to Delbert Fields and Bobbie Cherry Fields. Cheri passed away peacefully on November 8th, leaving behind a legacy of love, service, and joy. Cheri’s story was one of resilience, creativity, and devotion.

Cheri grew up in Dallas, Texas, thriving in school. She was a standout on the drill team, a member of the dance team, and a participant in school plays. Her passion for music and service shone through in her involvement in the church youth group and choir, and she was even nominated as a Homecoming Queen in her junior year.

After graduating, Cheri pursued her interest in healthcare, attending Fullerton Junior College and Southern California Dental Assistant School. She went on to work as a dental assistant in California, later becoming a certified hospital dental assistant when hospital dental surgery was first being introduced.

In 1969, Cheri married her high school sweetheart, Daniel Maurice Coulon, after Dan returned from serving in the Air Force. They went on to raise three wonderful sons—David, Michael, and Stephen—whom she adored. Cheri treasured her time as a stay-at-home mom, loving every moment spent with her boys as they grew.

In 1990, she started a new chapter in her professional life, becoming office manager for Young Life Ministry, where she worked for 26 years. In her own words, "I am good at organizing and doing all the paperwork to give the directors and college leaders more time to present the Gospel to unsaved teenagers. That was God’s gift to me." Her service to others continued as she volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a Webelo Leader. She earned numerous awards for her leadership, including the District Award of Merit.

Cheri’s artistry and creativity also flourished in calligraphy, a lifelong passion she began in 1983. She was a founding member of the Waco Calligraphy Guild in 1988, where she served as president and held several board positions. For years she taught calligraphy classes, loved teaching others the art of beautiful lettering, saying, "When you see handwriting, you know that a real person with a heartbeat wrote those letters. It connects you to human beings unlike computer-generated words do."

Among the many highlights of Cheri’s life, her greatest joy came from watching her sons grow into successful men, each graduating from Baylor University and leading successful careers in law enforcement, technology, and public education. She found immense pride in seeing her beloved children find their paths, and in her grandchildren—Clayton, Henry, and Frances—and step-grandchild, Raina Woodward. Cherry’s love for her family was unconditional, and she deeply cherished her role as a wife to Danny Coulon, the love of her life.

Cheri is preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Coulon, and survived by her sons David, Michael, and Stephen, their wives Briana, Regan, and Heather, and her grandchildren Clayton, Raina, Henry, and Frances. She is also survived by her sisters Terri Schmidt and Kim Shields, and nephew Kevin Bready.

A memorial service celebrating Cheri's life is scheduled for 2 P.M., Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at OakCrest Funeral Home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Young Life Ministry or a charity of your choice in her honor.

Cherry’s family finds comfort in knowing that her legacy of faith, love, and service will live on in the hearts of those she touched. “P.S. Write Soon,” a sentiment she cherished, will remain a reminder to us all of the deep connections that bind us together.