Carol "Cherie" Mackay Birch Obituary (1935 - 2018)

Our beloved wife, mom, grandma, and friend, returned to her heavenly home on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, after a valiant fight with cancer. Cherie was born on March 7, 1935 in Murray, Utah to Arthur Joshua and Merle Reynolds Mackay. She was the youngest of 5 children. Her mother often called her “my cherry blossom.” She married her sweetheart Ronald W. Birch in the Salt Lake Temple on June 21, 1958. She graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1957. She taught public school until she started her own family and then continued teaching preschool in her home for many years. Almost every child in the local area attended her special preschool. She always had a great love for children. She was most happy spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She found joy in raising many children as her own with her eternal companion. She served even more children as a primary president. Besides her love for children, she had a great love and talent for music. She started playing the organ in Sunday School at age 16 and was the ward organist for 64 years. A highlight in her life was playing the organ in the Salt Lake Temple every week for many years. She taught piano lessons, accompanied many vocalists, and played the piano and organ at many events. She was proud of her pioneer heritage. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and served as president of her chapter for 4 years. She had great faith in the Savior, and she taught her posterity by her pure example. She always had a smile for everyone. She was a fabulous cook. She loved to sew, and she was very creative. She had joy sharing all her creations. She will be remembered as a valiant, faithful, dedicated, hardworking, strong woman who loved and served all who knew her. She fought hard right up to her last breath. She is survived by her husband Ron; children, Cherie Lynne, Merle Diane (Scott) Smith, Mackay, Ladd Mackay (Ronda), Kelly, Krissy Blunck, Robin (Don) Westphal; 14 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. Cherie was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Grant and Clayton (Vivian); sisters, Louise (Chet) Kim and Marilyn (Frank) Mismash; son, Andrew Mackay; and grandson, Brian Andrew Smith. Viewings are scheduled on Friday, August 31, 2018, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, September 1, from 10-10:45 a.m. Funeral Services will begin Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Viewing and funeral services will be held at Cottonwood Creek Ward, 1250 East 4800 South, Salt Lake City, UT. Interment will take place at the Murray City Cemetery. Flowers may be delivered to Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home on Friday, August 31st. As a family we would like to express our gratitude to her amazing friends, neighbors, ward family, IMC doctors and nurses, and Legacy and Aspire Home Health who showed love and kindness during the challenging past 8 months. We find great peace and happiness thinking of the great reunion Cherie is now enjoying. We will miss her very much, but she instilled faith in us to know that we will see her again.