Suzette Rickenbacker Cherry of Colorado Springs, Col., passed away on, Sunday, April 7, 2013 in Colorado Springs.
A military memorial service was held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at New Life Church in Colorado Springs with Pastor Mel Waters officiating. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.
Born Sept. 1, 1967 at Fort Rucker, she was a 1985 graduate of Enterprise High School, attended ESJC and received her degree in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University, Colorado Springs.
Suzette retired from U. S. Air Force, having achieved the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. This is the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. Today, only 1 percent of the total enlisted force are Chief Master Sergeants. At her retirement ceremony she received the Meritorious Service medal citation, lauding the leadership she provided to wing’s enlisted members. After retirement, “Chief” Cherry worked for Department of Defense as Director of Staff Missle Defense Space Development Center, Colorado Springs. She volunteered as a cadet sponsor at the U. S. Air Force Academy, the organization of the first national museum of WWII aviation, the Dreamcatchers Equine Rescue of abused horses and at the Colorado Springs Ronald McDonald House.
Suzette was preceded in death by her father, Ernest Rickenbacker, grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Daugherty and grandmother, The`se`e Rickenbacker.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Cherry; daughter, Kyler Burch, both of Colorado Springs; mother, Sharon Swift (Jim) of Enterprise; her brother, Scott Rickenbacker (Sarah) of Raleigh, N.C.; nieces and nephews, Matthew and Lucas Rickenbacker of Enterprise, Hannah, Colin, Christopher, John, Zack, Emily, Mary, Andrew and Meghan Kanady, all of Raleigh; and aunts and uncles, Don Daugherty (Shirley), Dale Daughtery (Angelia), all of Louisville, Ky., Fre`de`rique Heavrin (Tom) of Enterprise and Dominique Featheringham (Michael) of Moreno Valley, Calif..
There will be a celebration of Suzette’s life held at St. Luke United Methodist Church, at a later date.
To sign the register book or to send condolences to the family, please visit our website at www.searcyfuneralhome.com.
Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory, 1301 Neal Metcalf Road, Hwy. 167 N, Enterprise, Alabama 36330, Phone (334) 393-2273
