Cheryl Lynn Poppa, the daughter of Ray Frank and Dorothy (Larson) Smith, was born on September 29, 1946, in Clarinda, Iowa. Cheryl graduated from Fairfax High School in 1964, and attended Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri for one year.

On June 6, 1965, Cheryl was united in marriage to Larry Dean Poppa in Rock Port, Missouri. They made their home in the Tarkio area their entire married life, and became the parents of three children, Randy, Traci and Michael.

Cheryl worked for the Community Hospital maternity ward, in Fairfax, Missouri, and for eight years at the Tarkio Academy. She was also the bookkeeper for Larry’s Repair. Most of all she loved to take care of her grandkids. Cheryl attended the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints Maryville Branch, where she was a very active member. Her church meant everything to her. Cheryl passed away on Monday, August 9, 2010, at Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Besides her parents, Cheryl is preceded in death by her granddaughter, Renee Elizabeth Poppa, and step-sister, Lynda Herron. Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Larry Poppa, of the home in Tarkio; children, Randy Poppa, and his wife, Kristie, Albany, Missouri, Traci Martin, and her husband, Jerry, Westboro, Missouri and Michael Poppa, Tarkio; grandchildren, Megan, Daniel, Sarah, Emily, Jordan, Timothy, Paul, Samuel, Montana (Tanner), Trev, Tawni, Tommi Lee and Austin; brothers, Richard Smith, and his wife, Rene, Rock Port, Missouri, and Burt Smith, Bethany, Missouri; sister, Amy Smith, Kansas City, Missouri; nephews, Kerry Oswald, Jacksonville, Florida, and Kim Smith, Bethany, and niece, Amanda Curran, Omaha, Nebraska.

Funeral Services:
10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 12, 2010, at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
Interment: St. John’s Cemetery, Westboro.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 11, 2010, from 7:00-8:00 p.m., at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
Memorials: American Cancer Society
Online condolences and obituary at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.
Services: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.