Cheryl Gayle Prescott

Cheryl was born on May 4, 1944, in Buffalo, New York, to Mildred Pearl Uhrhan and Henry Edwin Grass. When Cheryl was just three years old, her father passed away. Her mom later married Harry Edward Zeh Sr., and the family moved to California, where Cheryl grew up with her half-sister and three half-brothers operating the family print shop.

She attended Lutheran High School and continued on to California Lutheran University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She then began working toward her master’s degree at the University of Victoria. Her studies were interrupted by the deaths of her parents in California, and she returned home to care for her younger siblings.

Her first job was as an immigration officer at SeaTac Airport. It was there that she met Perry Allen Prescott, a customs agent. They were married on August 18, 1973. Cheryl went on to complete her Master of Arts on May 25, 1974. She and Perry had two children, Stephanie Virginia and Peter Lynn.

In 1986, they moved to Vashon Island, where they enjoyed island life. It was here that Cheryl developed a true love of roses. Her collection grew to more than 300 bushes, and in every spare moment, you could find her enjoying the outdoors. She passed her love of gardening and the outdoors on to both of her children.

Throughout her working career, Cheryl was strongly driven and passionate about her work and the individual impact she had on families from all over the world. She was a leader in making immigration processes more efficient at both the state and federal levels. She developed the July 4 Citizenship Ceremonies at Seattle Center, as well as daily citizenship ceremonies that allowed those who passed their citizenship tests to be recognized right away. On September 1, 2000, she retired from Immigration after more than 30 years of service.

Her career also included three years working in Washington, D.C. In 2001, she enjoyed serving as a docent at Mount Vernon. After retiring from Immigration, she continued to work part time for Senco as an immigration auditor until 2007. That same year, she became a Rose Society judge, an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian, and a Master Gardener. Her passion for roses also included the introduction of two rose bushes, Rosewood and Vashon Dawn.

She and Perry loved to build homes! Over their life together, they built five homes. They also loved to travel, visiting Australia, New Zealand, Africa, China, Greece, Germany, and many other European countries. Their travels also took them to Mexico, Hawaii, national parks, and Alaska. They hiked in Italy, Germany, France, and England. They made sure to pass their love of travel on to their kids, taking Stephanie and Peter with them so they could share their love of a global perspective.

Cheryl worked as a church secretary until she and Perry moved off Vashon Island in 2012. They settled in Snohomish, Washington, to be closer to their four wonderful grandchildren, Matthew, Jaycie, Ethan, and Dillyn, and their children’s spouses, Jonathan LePere and Jamie Prescott.

When Perry passed away in 2014, Cheryl continued the life they had loved while finding new adventures with her family. Cheryl built her current home to be closer to her daughter. She enjoyed 12 more years sharing the activities of her children and grandchildren and continuing to work in her yard, where she tended more than 300 roses. She also continued to quilt, making 50 quilts a year for Seattle’s Children’s Hospital.

She traveled with her children’s family, including attending two international rose conventions in Denmark and France and cruising to Alaska and the Mediterranean.

Cheryl passed away on September 28, 2026, while peacefully at home with her cat, Ginger. She will be missed by many on earth, but she rejoices with the Lord.

She was a loving mother and grandmother, and a grounded, logical, and stubborn woman who took on many adventures and had many friends she made along the way. As her children, we feel that she and Dad provided us with the best childhood and life perspective anyone could ask for. The work of parenthood sometimes comes without noticeable rewards, but instead is passed along in the positivity we share with others.