Cheryl Jean Skidmore, born March 4, 1965, in Chicago, IL, to her parents Donald and Mary Jean (Parisi) Zyck, passed away peacefully at her home in Lewisville, TX on August 8, 2024 at the age of 59. Cheryl was surrounded by the love and devotion of her husband, Darren, of 30 years of marriage, and her two children, Katherine and Lauren Skidmore of Lewisville, TX. Cheryl was a wonderful mother, wife, sister, and friend to all those around her. Her kindness, love, and compassionate nature illuminated the lives of everyone she met, leaving a lasting impression that inspired others to be their best selves. Cheryl was always present for others when they needed her the most. Her selflessness and ability to put her life on pause to protect and care for those around her was something so remarkable to witness. Her patience, tenderness, and unconditional love is something her friends and family will hold and cherish in their hearts forever.

Cheryl's fierce work ethic and natural leadership abilities made her an accomplished Human Resources Executive and an admired source of knowledge. Cheryl was born into a family of hard working individuals, and she was no different. Cheryl put herself through university, attending Northern Illinois University (NIU) in Dekalb, IL and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. During her time at NIU, she was an active member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority where she made lifelong friends that were with her through the end.

After university, Cheryl moved from the Chicagoland suburbs to the city of Chicago where she began her 30 plus year career in Human Resources beginning at Hyatt Hotels. From Chicago, she moved to Texas with Hyatt where she met her husband, Darren. They worked at Hyatt together for 3 years. During Cheryl's time at Hyatt, Darren and Cheryl moved back to the Chicagoland area for a couple of years while they were engaged and eventually got married on March 25, 1994. In 1996, Darren and Cheryl moved back to Texas, where they built the home they would raise their two children in.

During Cheryl's time in corporate America, she went on to hold several more HR roles at the following companies: PageNet, Hitachi Consulting, JDA Software, and Quest Resource Management Group. Cheryl used her degree in psychology to make her a better HR director, taking her job seriously all the while showing her colleagues that they could trust her and that their ideas, conflicts, or concerns would be listened to. She understood people's nature in a way that made her excel in her role at each company and taught those around her how to be a better employee and colleague. Outside of her main role in the HR department at each company, Cheryl was always heavily involved in the collaborative, creative aspect of every job. She loved to plan holiday parties and themed events with games and activities that everyone could participate in, she made sure everyone's birthday was celebrated at the office, and encouraged her employees to celebrate the holidays that were important to them. Moreover, philanthropy was also something that was very important to Cheryl. During her time with Quest, she always made it a company-wide goal to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation and participated in the annual race held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month alongside her coworkers. As a testament to Cheryl's impact on the people in her life, Quest is currently in the process of setting up the Cheryl Skidmore Charity Program for the company where they will make charity contributions to philanthropic organizations that were meaningful to Cheryl, in Cheryl's honor.

As important as her HR career was to her, motherhood was just as important to Cheryl. She raised two wonderful, accomplished daughters, and was dedicated to fostering their development by encouraging them to follow their passions. Katherine graduated from the University of North Texas Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Minor in Spanish, as well as a Master of Science in Accounting - Audit and Assurance. Lauren is currently attending the University of Texas at Austin, and following in Cheryl's footsteps, will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Minors in Health Communications and Business. If her daughters showed a heightened interest in a topic or activity, Cheryl would do her research to make sure they had everything they needed to be successful in their hobby, drive them anywhere they needed to go, and if there was something she couldn't find, she would get creative and figure out a way for her daughters to get what they needed. Cheryl stayed involved in both of her daughters' academic and extracurricular activities throughout their schooling, where she most notably volunteered as Band Mom for the Lewisville High School Marching Band during both Katherine and Lauren's time at Lewisville High School. During her daughters' respective college careers, Cheryl would let them know she was thinking of them and sending her love by mailing care packages for holidays like Valentine's Day and Halloween, or during finals week with an encouraging note to push them through the stress. Motherhood came naturally to Cheryl, and she took care of everyone that walked through her front door, never letting visitors leave without offering them something to eat first.

Family was extremely important to Cheryl. She was a dedicated wife to her husband, Darren, and they built a beautiful life in the DFW area. However, part of her heart has always remained in the Chicago area. Cheryl was the type of person that no matter how much time passed between catching up, she would pick right back up where she left off the last time she talked to a loved one. Because of this, during her entire life, Cheryl remained close to her father, her five siblings and their wonderful spouses, and the longtime friends she made in high school and college.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Darren of Lewisville, TX, two daughters, Katherine Skidmore and Lauren Skidmore, both of Lewisville, TX; four brothers, Donald (Jody) Zyck Jr. of Geneva, IL, Daniel (Annette) Zyck of North Riverside, IL, Michael (Becky) Zyck of Woodstock, GA, and John (April) Zyck of Downers Grove, IL; one sister, Judy (Zyck) Gilman of Downers Grove, IL; 14 nieces and nephews; one grand-niece and two grand-nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents Mary Jean (Parisi) Zyck and Donald Zyck.

A celebration of life for Cheryl, held in Texas, is scheduled at 2 PM on August 24, 2024 at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home in Lewisville, Texas.

An open house Celebration of Life for Cheryl, held in Illinois, is scheduled from 3 - 5:30 PM on September 7, 2024 at The Lodge at Katherine Legge Memorial Park 5901 S County Line Rd, Hinsdale, IL 60521.

In lieu of flowers, the family, following Cheryl's legacy wishes, request that memorial donations go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. All donations will be made to "Quest for Breasts in Honor of Cheryl Skidmore" which is Quest's registered team at the Susan G. Komen foundation.

Donate in Cheryl's honor here: https://secure.info-komen.org/site/Donation2?idb=1384565031&df_id=27691&27691.donation=form1&FR_ID=10482&mfc_pref=T&PROXY_ID=489679&PROXY_TYPE=22