Cheryl Theresa Cleveland

Cheryl Theresa Cleveland, 51, of Farmington, passed from this life on Monday, March 21, 2011, in Farmington. She was born Sept. 13, 1959, in Shiprock to Hugh and Velma Cleveland. Her mother is Dzilth’ahni (Mountain Cove People Clan), and her father is To’aheedlíínii (Water Flow Together Clan). Cheryl attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Farmington. Later, she attended a special school that would direct attention to her learning needs and disability that was discovered at the time. Cheryl attended Farmington High School and graduated in 1977. Because of her disability, she was unable to work and she never had any children, but she was a loving sister and auntie who stayed home throughout her early years to look after her little brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. She would always get ready to knit up a blanket or booties when she heard that “new edition” was going to be born. That was her special gift to them. Knitting was a special gift her grandmother, Ora Curley, and Aunt Ginny taught her. Cheryl was preceded in death by her grandparents, Nat Curley Sr., Ora Curley and Hugh Cleveland Sr. She is survived by her longtime partner of 17 years, Mike Shaw; parents, Hugh and Velma Cleveland; brothers, Darrell and Gabriel Cleveland; sisters, Gwen McKim, Elaine Cleveland-Mason, Karen Hetrick, Gayle Cleveland-Marruto; and grandmother, Ida Cleveland. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington, led by Father Ray Mahlmann. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 25, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 414 N. Allen Ave. in Farmington, with Father Tim Farrell and Father Ray Mahlmann as concelebrants. Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, 1606 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington, following the Mass. The reception will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 25, at the Sacred Heart Parish Center in Farmington. Pallbearers are Don Hetrick, Dennis Curley, Chris Marruto, Patrick Bennett, Eric McKim, Charles McKim, Daniel Hena and Nathan Cleveland. Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home 103 East Ute Street Farmington, NM 87401 (505) 325-8688