Cheryl Lynn Roberts
Born December 31, 1960 – Passed January 30, 2026
Cheryl Lynn Roberts (née Hollman), who preferred to go by Charlie, passed away on Friday, January 30th, after a 25-year battle with cancer and a list of other illnesses that would’ve flattened anyone else. But not Charlie. As her dad, Charles Hollman, regularly said, “She’s not normal” and “She needs to be studied by science,” and her kids joked that the last two things left on Earth would be Twinkies and Mama Bear.
She was born in Kent County, Michigan on New Year’s Eve, 1960, to Charles and Barbara Hollman. She grew up with her siblings David, Joe, Thomas, and Susan, and spent most of her life in West Michigan before retiring to Brownsville, Texas. Her final year and a half was spent at Medilodge of Leelanau, where the staff were often left wondering how one woman could be their sweetest resident and their most wanted escapee, all in the same afternoon.
Her love life was a great story in itself. Cheryl married her first husband, Dwight “Lou” Daly (aka Papa Bear), and together they crisscrossed the country selling magazines door to door, a wild adventure that doubled as income and family lore. They returned to West Michigan with their fresh new baby, bullet wounds (yes, really), and enough stories to blackmail half of the Midwest. Later, she married Marcus Roberts (who passed in 2016), whom she met online back when online dating still meant you were crazy. Their first meeting was at a Prodigy Bash, an early internet chatroom meetup, and the rest was history.
Her children:
• Jessica Daly (Jeremiah Wood): Madison, Landon, Mason
• Joe Daly (Laura Daly): Stella, Wyatt
• Thomas Daly
• TJ Daly (Sam Daly): Lincoln, Freya, Jamison
Her stepchildren:
• Anthony (Gilda) James Romero Roberts: Ethan, Leila, Aidan
• Felicia Roberts (Cat Lady / Mom)
• Michelle June (Aaron): Zoey Arreola, Jackson Gasser
Charlie was crafty in the “I will hot-glue you into a masterpiece” sense. Halloween costumes weren’t bought, they were engineered. Cardboard, felt, spite, and whatever was in the garage became legendary outfits that made store bought look lazy. Some of her most iconic creations included McDonald’s french fries, a massive hat with the wearer’s belly painted as a face, and an unforgettable pink penguin.
Slot machines were her escape, her thrill, and her routine. She played Triple Double Diamond like it owed her money. Soaring Eagle was her local favorite, and MGM Grand Las Vegas was her playground. Made even better when she smuggled her monkey, Gus Gus, in for the weekend.
She had the heart of a hustler: scrappy, clever, and never afraid to color outside the lines if it meant getting things done. Cheryl sold Tupperware like a queen in the ’90s, worked in the real estate and mortgage industry, and eventually launched her own mobile escrow business, Hollman Escrow. All while juggling chemo treatments and making sure no one around her took life too seriously. Her life was messy, bold, creative, and full of heart. She didn’t do anything halfway.
Charlie was quirky, loyal, and unapologetically stubborn, especially when it came to her infamous pillow. That sad, stain speckled, possibly haunted thing trailed her through decades of homes, hospital stays, and horrified glances from her children like a very questionable emotional support object.
And every Friday at 5:00, without fail, she’d take a shot of Jack Daniels while Shanty by Jonathan Edwards played on the radio. It was tradition.
She leaves behind a crew of people who knew her strength, admired her grit, and will forever remember her spark.
So here’s to Cheryl, who saw expiration dates as suggestions, setbacks as challenges, and every doctor’s timeline as a personal dare.
May the slots be loose, the pillow fluffed (somehow), the Jack poured strong, the glue gun eternally hot, “Shanty” on repeat, and the angels very, very patient…
While flowers are appreciated, we kindly ask that you consider sharing a story, photo, or memory instead. That’s the kind of tribute Charlie would’ve loved most.
For those who feel moved to give, monetary gifts are welcome and will go toward covering final expenses and supporting the family. There’s absolutely no expectation, your kindness and memories truly mean the world.
Cards and contributions can be sent to:
The Daly Family
Unit 432
Rockford, MI 49341
*** Please note: This address only accepts deliveries via USPS. If you’d like to send something via FedEx, UPS, or a florist, please email JosephRDaly@gmail.com so we can provide a physical address.***