Cherie Alldredge Finlinson

Cherie Alldredge Finlinson was born March 17, 1936, at the home of her Roper grandparents in Oak City, Utah. She left this life on tax day, April 15, 2025, from her own home, also in Oak City, Utah, where she had spent the majority of her life. Her current home was built on the same spot as the home she grew up in.

Cherie was the second child and first daughter of Mervyn “Piz” Jay and Bernice “Bonnie” Roper Alldredge. She was one of 7 children in the family. She attended elementary school in Oak City and graduated from Delta High School in Delta, Utah. In a quick start to adulthood, she met and married Esdras Reece Finlinson at the ripe old age of 17 in the Manti LDS Temple. Together they welcomed their first baby boy a year later, all before graduation.

Cherie met the many challenges of supporting her husband and raising an enlarging family as they first lived in Provo for a few short years while he finished his first college degree. They moved back to Oak City where they resided the rest of their lives with the exception of a year in Salt Lake City while Reece finished another degree, and 5 years later in life while she served two missions with her husband in Argentina and Chile.

Along with the challenge of raising 9 children, Cherie was busy with community and Church responsibilities. Among her many callings, she served as Primary President, Relief Society President, and temple worker. She served as PTA president and directed the children’s community Christmas operetta for many years; one year, even writing and performing her own called “Little Bear’s Christmas”.

Cherie maintained a weather station for the National Weather Service for years, having taken over the job after her father and grandfather, who previously held the job, were no longer able. All together they kept it going for more than 100 years. She completed her own bachelor’s degree from BYU and worked as a parent advisor, instructing parents of handicapped children about care in their homes. She taught Preschool for the Millard County School District for a number of years.

The hobbies that Cherie enjoyed benefitted many people. She crocheted many items to include wedding dresses and table cloths for others. She sewed the majority of clothes for her 9 children. Her cooking was daily done in industrial-sized batches in order to feed her family of 11 and usually two grandpas. A baby bathtub made the perfect mixing bowl for batches of cookies, bread, and was even filled with caramel popcorn from time to time. She took up oil painting, made wedding cakes for many of her posterity, and built elaborate doll houses. All of her grandkids aspired to play card games with her to see how much cheating she would try to pull. She was definitely the life of the party, although she claimed, “I don’t have any personality left. It has all been beat out of me.” It also deserves mentioning her incredible care and affection for her many dogs.

Cherie was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two sisters, two brothers, a son-in- law, and four grandchildren. She is survived by her children: Phil (Julie) Finlinson, Maria (Jeff) Peterson, Dee Jay (Julie) Finlinson, Mickie (Gordon) Rawlinson, Sonja Cazier, Karma Finlinson, Marcia (Mel) Mull, Liesl Finlinson, KaeLene Scow; 36 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter; sister: Winona Tolbert; brother: Tex Alldredge; and her dog Cricket.

During her 89 years on earth, mom left a lasting impression on all those whom she served and was loved by all who knew her, unless you are the woman who pulled the branches out of her tree.

Funeral services for Cherie will be held on Saturday, May 3, at 11:00 am, at the Oak City LDS Chapel, 35 East Center Street. A viewing will be held, 9:00-10:40 am, prior to the service. Those unable to attend are invited to view the recorded video of the service. Link will be posted with her obituary at www.nicklemortuary.com on Saturday following the conclusion of the service. Interment will be at the Oak City Cemetery.