Cheryl Lee Becker, 75, passed away on December 31, 2024, in Scottsdale, AZ. She was the mother of two daughters, Camille Chatilovicz and Alexandra McAuslan, of Scottsdale, AZ, formerly of Washington, D.C., and two grandsons, Bronson and Beckett McAuslan.
Born on January 21, 1949, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Cheryl was the beloved daughter of Melvin and Shirley Becker.
Cheryl graduated with the Class of ’67 from Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, obtained a B.F.A. from University of Miami in Florida, and a B.A. in Interior Design from Mt. Vernon College in Washington, D.C. Throughout the course of her life, she resided in Kenosha, WI, Miami, FL, London, England, the Washington, D.C. metro area, Madison, WI, and finally Scottsdale, AZ.
As an only child, she was adored by her parents, Melvin and Shirley Becker. Cheryl also had a very close relationship with her maternal grandmother, Edith Oliver, with whom she spent many an afternoon. Her best friend was June Ristau starting in 7th grade, who accompanied her on their first trip to New York City for the World’s Fair. She spent summers in Winter, Wisconsin, fishing and exploring the woods with her father. She loved shopping, baking, and celebrating Christmas with her mother. Her favorite memory was a trip to Italy where they were famously invited to crash a stranger’s wedding in the countryside after stopping to ask for directions, a permanent fixture in family lore. She was particularly close to her father’s side of the family, the Beckers, especially her aunts, Jenny Bloomberg and Evelyn Cutler, and spent much time at their families’ farms.
Cheryl had a vast knowledge of design history, two arts degrees, and impeccable taste. A Fiber-Textile Artist with her own weaving studio at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA, she spun colorful rugs, blankets, and clothing, often with a young Camille playing at her feet. Some of her creations were featured in the windows of department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. Cheryl’s artistic acumen could be seen in the handmade Halloween costumes she crafted for her two daughters, winning them best costume year after year, her annual Christmas decorations that rivaled Better Homes and Gardens, and her signature magenta pink lipstick and impeccable, funky style. She turned many family vacations into a pseudo art history lesson, instilling the enduring family joke: “I spy Moorish influence,” as a result of a trip to Portugal in 2000.
In addition to her excellence in applied arts, she was a natural athlete, excelling in running, golf, and tennis. Her family always looked forward to her home-cooked meals, especially the nights during which her famous tortilla pie, Normandy chicken with apples, or steamed artichokes were on the menu. She was a voracious reader of non-fiction and The Washington Post, consumer of independent film, patron of the arts and ballet, and lover of travel, especially all things Europe.
In their younger years, Cheryl was the consummate mother, striving to give her daughters every opportunity academically, athletically, and in the arts. She encouraged their respective intellectual pursuits, and love of lacrosse, soccer, ballet, musical theater, and choral music. She was the mother who stayed up until 1:00 a.m. submitting applications to the best summer programs, holding a warm compress to soothe her daughter’s ear infection, or sewing a pair of pointe shoes for a performance the following day. Above all else, Cheryl made a safe space for her children to express themselves and prioritized building character and kindness.
Her most impressive accolades include a fantastic sense of humor, being the easiest person to talk to in the room, a kind and empathetic heart, her beautiful smile, incredible taste in Golden Retrievers, approachability, and enthusiasm for living and exploring all corners of life.
Service Date January 17, 2025
SERVICE LOCATION St. Pauls Lutheran Church
Memorial services honoring Cheryl’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 8760 37th Ave, Kenosha, WI.
Inurnment will follow in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Cheryl’s memory may be made to The Torpedo Factory Artists Association,105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA, 22314, https://www.torpedofactoryartists.com/donate or to The Wisconsin Humane Society, Kenosha Campus, 7811 60th Avenue, Kenosha, WI, 53142, https://www.wihumane.org/donate.
