Cheryl K. Lay

Cheryl K. Lay, 67, of Sioux City, passed away Thursday, January 3, 2013 at a local hospital. Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at First Assembly of God with Reverend Al Weiss officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be at Omaha Valley Cemetery in rural Homer, Nebraska. Online condolences can be directed to meyerbroschapels.com. Cheryl was born the daughter of Dwayne S. and Helen L. (Little) Fredricksen on July 10, 1945 in Sioux City, Iowa. She attended grade school at Walker Island School before moving to South Sioux City where she finished and graduated in 1963. She was the class coordinator for the South Sioux City Alumni Association for 39 years. She also attended Morningside College from 1963 to 1965. Cheryl married Francis M. Lay on September 23, 1965 and had her son, Brian. Cheryl was well known for her music ministry in the Siouxland area since the age of 17. She was asked to join Gobb Revival in 1962, but declined. She organized the contemporary singing group "The Sun Shine Singers" in 1981 along with Ken Johnson, her life long accompanist. Cheryl was worship leader at Wesley United Methodist Church and became recognized as a lay speaker and spoke at churches within a 50 mile radius of Sioux City. In 1994 she sang at Mickey Gilley's dinner theater and then in 1995 at The Cristy Lane Theatre in Branson, Missouri. In addition to her love of music, she also enjoyed spending time with her family. Cheryl was a member of First Assembly of God Church. Cheryl is survived by one son, Brian (Jennifer) Lay of Sioux City; one sister, Kathy Coates of Sioux City; one aunt, Nancy (Bob) Hammer of Omaha; two nephews, David Gilmore of Sioux City and Christopher Coates of Sioux City; one niece, Holly (Burt) Chase of Sioux City; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Diane Gilmore; and one brother-in-law, Jack Coates.