Cherie graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing where she proudly represented the University as a member of the Cheerleading Team. She began her professional career with Phillip Morris and later transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry believing it provided her a greater opportunity to serve others. At the time of her passing she was employed by Astellas Pharma US, Inc. as an Access and Reimbursement Manager. She was passionate in her work helping oncology and transplant patients gain access to necessary medications. At Astellas, Cherie was awarded two Summit awards in addition to numerous other awards. Cherie was most proud of being named a "Person of Courage" by Astellas and speaking as a cancer patient for the inaugural Astellas Patient & Caregiver Week event. Cherie bravely and boldly fought the brain cancer; she was honored and privileged to participate in a clinical trial at Duke University. Her courageous participation in the trial not only gave her more time with her family, but she believed in the benefit others would receive who faced the same diagnosis.
She married Darrell, the love of her life, on May 7, 1994 at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Kansas. Being deeply proud of her children, Claire and Ethan, her greatest joy was being their mother. She loved her family above all else. Cherie was loved and treasured by her family, colleagues and friends. She was fierce, bold and determined in all she did while she lived fully and loved deeply. Our dear and beloved Cherie was a gift to us all, and our world is better because we knew her.
Cherie is survived by family members who loved her dearly including: husband, Darrell McCormick; daughter, Claire-René McCormick; son, Ethan McCormick; parents, K. Verdou and Helen Parish; sister, René (Tim) Burrow, née Parish; brother, Eric (Heidi) Parish; mother-in-law, JoEllen McCormick; uncle, Royce Parish; aunt, Orpha Parish; sister-in-law Diana Reid (Jimmie); sister-in-law Bethany Laub (Joe). Her extended family, nieces and nephews, Meghan and Ian (Alexis) Burrow; Adam and Luke Parish; Mitchell and Keaton McCormick; Jamie (Arlene) Reid, Troy Reid and Diandra (Chris) Meyers, née Reid and cousins, Shirley Grigsby, Mike, Doug and Matt Drinen. She also left dearly loved Gibson Hoefgen, a friend who spent enough time at her home and with her family to be considered a daughter. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Robert and Mildred Smith; her paternal grandparents, Keith and Gladys Parish; her father-in-law, Charles McCormick; brother-in-law, Daniel McCormick; uncle Ralph Parish and aunt ZiRita Parish.
The family would like to thank the many members of her care team; especially Dr. Brian Milligan and Pattie Callaway, FNP-BC of Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City; Dr. Annick Desjardins, Rosemary Ketring, BSN and Susanne Jacobs, MSN at Duke University Tisch Brain Tumor Center and the loving, compassionate, attentive staff of KC Hospice House. A special thank you to Astellas Pharma US, Inc. and her many colleagues and friends who lovingly supported Cherie and her family throughout this entire journey.
A visitation and service celebrating Cherie will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, where she was a member, 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kansas. Visitation at 10:00a.m., Celebration of Life service in the main sanctuary at 11:00a.m. with reception following.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Duke University Tisch Brain Tumor Center or KC Hospice and Palliative Care in memory of Cherie or any charity honoring Cherie’s legacy of devotion to service to others, or the GoFundMe to support her children's education.
The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3624, Durham, North Carolina 27710
KC Hospice and Palliative Care, 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64114.
https://www.gofundme.com/cheriemccormick-memorial-scholarship-for-Claire-and-Ethan
