Cheryl Madden, age 77, of Mission Viejo, CA, passed away after a brief illness on September 2, 2026. Cheryl was the beloved wife of James for over 51 years. She was the loving mother of two adult children, Sean (Anne Marie) and Meghan, and loving sister of Sandra Kay Miller (Peter). She was predeceased by her parents, Paul L. and Myrtle L. Myers. Cheryl was the adored grandmother of four, Olivia, Ian, Abby, and Emily. She was a loving Aunt and Great Aunt to many nieces and nephews. Cheryl was also the sister-in-law to James’ six siblings and their spouses, whom she enjoyed visiting and traveling with. She also had many wonderful friends including her bible study group, fellow pickleball players, and her beloved dog, Oreo. Cheryl will be missed by everyone fortunate enough to have known her.
Family was everything to Cheryl. She cherished the milestone moments, the silly moments and everything in between. She marveled at how the kids had grown and appreciated their love so much. She also appreciated all of the family events, many gracefully hosted by her daughter-in-law, Anne Marie.
Cheryl earned her college degree in Criminal Justice, and was in federal law enforcement for over 30 years when she retired. She was among the first waves of women hired as a criminal investigator with the government. She retired as a Supervisory Federal Air Marshal in charge of a dedicated group of air marshals, who admired her leadership and whom she loved working with. In her life activities Cheryl was a girls’ softball coach, an indoor soccer team coach, a Girl Scout leader, and an amusement park aficionado, especially Disneyland and Disney World. She loved the school concerts, marching band performances, and was a season ticket holder at the Lyceum Theatre at Vanguard University. Cheryl also enjoyed traveling, especially with Jim where they explored many parts of the world on ocean cruises. She visited many wonderful countries, saw many marvelous sights and made her dream come true of seeing penguins in nature.
Cheryl lived her life with independence and determination, heart, and love. She was a strong woman and a great role model for others. She was loved and cherished by all.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the American Heart Association.
