Cheryl F. Foley, 79, of Bluford, Illinois, passed away July 24, 2025. She was born August 6, 1945 in Ada, Minnesota to the late Earl and Helen “Dolly” Merkens. Cheryl married Myron Foley on August 22, 1971.
Cheryl is survived by her husband of nearly 54 years, Myron G. Foley. Her brother, Don Merkens, sister, Beth Kirgin and Rich Merkens, sister in law, Nancy Merkens and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Bud Merkens.
Cheryl earned her bachelor Degree from Morehead State University, MN and Masters Degree from Northern Illinois University and did additional Graduate work at SIU-C. She has been breaking barriers for women throughout her professional career. She started her own successful business in the 1980s when this was quite unusual. She had many firsts in our area for women. She was the first female Dean Rend Lake College and long time faculty member. The first female president of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. The first female President of the Mount Vernon Rotary Club.
Cheryl was a generous and dedicated civic volunteer in our community. She devoted her time to serving in numerous organization. Cheryl was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon where she has served on several committees. She was an Administrative Counselor Emeritus for Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, served as President of the Counselors and a member of several Cedarhurst committees. Cheryl was long time board member for the YMCA and organizer of the Derby Fundraisers. She was a 48 year member of the Delta Theta Tau Sorority, Delta Rho Chapter Mount Vernon. She was a former board member of the Girl Scouts Council of Southern Illinois. A Former member of the Board of Associates of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital. She was a secretary, treasurer and board member of M.G. Foley, Inc. Real Estate where she was also a real estate broker and long time real estate agent.
Cheryl was the Jefferson County Citizen of the year for 2002.
Cheryl loved to volunteer and give back to the community as list demonstrates and it doesn’t cover all the positions she has held. Cheryl was generous to all around her. She was an excellent baker and gourmet chef. She also had a keen eye for interior design. Her life has touched so many and she will be dearly missed.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, August 2, 2025 from Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 am with Reverend Alan Rhein officiating. Interment will be held at Lutheran Cemetery in Warsaw, Illinois at a later date. Memorials may be made in Cheryl ‘s honor to First United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon YMCA, or Cedarhurst Center for the Arts.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.