Cheryl Ann Falgoust Smith

Cheryl Ann Falgoust Smith passed away peacefully and naturally from Alzheimer’s disease, early in the morning on Saturday, May 4, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family during her last hours. She was 80 years old, though she looked years younger because she went to the salon every single week, right up to the week she died. Cheryl was the beloved daughter and only child of parents John and Thelma Smith of St. James, Louisiana. She was born March 30, 1944 in Las Vegas, Nevada while her father was stationed at a nearby military base. She grew up in St. James, Louisiana on a sugar cane farm her family owned and operated. Cheryl went to St. James High School, in St. James Parrish. There, she played the saxophone in marching band, was named Queen of the Carnival Ball, and participated in the 4 H club. She graduated high school from St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, LA in 1962. She then went to Louisiana State University, where she graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in English, minor in History, in 1966. She met Linden Joseph Waguespack while at LSU and they married in 1968. While they later divorced, they first travelled the country and world together, and raised their two daughters, Andrea and Candace. Cheryl worked as a reservationist for Delta Air Lines for about 30 years, relocating her family to Salt Lake City, Utah. She always loved airplanes and looking up at the sky to see them flying overhead. She also enjoyed stars and space, marveling at God’s great universe. She loved nature. She would often call her daughters and tell them “Have you seen the sunset yet? The colors are beautiful!” And “Tonight is a full moon, be sure to look at it!” Wherever she lived, the view from her window was the most important consideration. Cheryl had a great appreciation for different cultures, especially Native American cultures. She spent a brief time living in Park City, Utah, and in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Later, she studied Eastern holistic medicine and certified in holistic massage therapy and cranial sacral therapy, before retiring. Cheryl liked to walk, to be outdoors, and she loved flowers. She could often be seen picking flowers from the sides of walkways and tucking them into her hair, or decorating her living spaces with leaves, sticks, flowers, and rocks. Cheryl moved to Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah, to live by her daughters and grandchildren. When she was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, she moved into Sagewood Living Community in Daybreak, where she thrived and took part in every activity available. Exercise and art were her favorites. She liked to paint nature scenes, hanging her own artwork all over her walls. Cheryl was a fun loving woman who lived her life to the fullest. She always wore bright colors and accessories, a reflection of her bright personality. Her laugh was contagious, her smile big. She loved people and socializing. She also loved cuisine, especially dessert! She loved music - classical, choral, and oldies, often dancing to Elvis. She was such a ray of sunshine and sass! And she was a loving and caring person to all she met. Cheryl is survived by her two daughters and seven grandchildren: Daughters Andrea (Erik) Bengtzen and Candace (Dan) Wagaman, both of South Jordan, Utah. Grandchildren Jordan, Aidan, Bella, Kason, Sadie, Brody and Austin. Cheryl is preceeded in death by her parents of St. James, Louisiana: John and Thelma (Falgoust) Smith, as well as her grandparents. Though Cheryl absolutely loved flowers, we ask that, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in her honor at: http://act.alz.org/goto/CherylSmith It was Cheryl’s wish to be cremated, which will be carried out by Serenity Funeral Home. Her family will be holding an Open House Celebration of Life in Cheryl’s honor at Sagewood in Daybreak, 11289 S Oakmond Rd, South Jordan, UT. Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 1:00-3:00 pm in the family room. All are welcome. Please stop by for refreshments and share a favorite memory of Cheryl with us! Her family is grateful to the many caring staff members and residents of the Sagewood Community, and to Canyon Home Health & Hospice for the outstanding care they gave during her final days. We will all miss Cheryl deeply, but we are happy that she now has a healthy mind and body restored to her. She has received her angel wings so she can fly with the birds in the sky, and is now our Guardian Angel.

Cheryl Ann Falgoust Smith

March 30, 1944 - May 4, 2024