Cherry Jan Thomas Bernard joyfully met Jesus face-to-face, and rejoined her heavenly family with a crown at age 74; leaving pain behind on August 22, 2024 in her home in Round Rock, Texas.
Cherry was born in Austin, Texas on February 8, 1950 to Roy and Ira Mae Thomas. Cherry and her older sister Patty, who she called her rock, grew up spending their days between their Austin home and the beloved 40-acre ranch in Lago Vista. A lifelong Longhorn fan, Cherry fondly recalled going to University of Texas home football games with her family or riding the Ferris wheel at the Texas State Fair to get a glimpse of the game from the top. She attended Stephen F. Austin High School where she marched with the band as a flag twirler on the Red Jackets drill team. Cherry obtained a BSE in education from Abilene Christian University, where she was active in the GATA women’s social club.
Her family attended the University Avenue Church of Christ (UA) in Austin, where her father was an elder, and where she met her husband, Bill Bernard, the joy of her life. After her college graduation, Bill and Cherry married on August 10, 1973 at UA with an outdoor reception at her parent’s home. Bill and Cherry established roots in Round Rock, TX in 1974, welcoming their first born, Brad, two years later, and then their daughter, Sumer, in 1981. This adoring mom fiercely loved her children, and grandchildren Jacob and Wyatt. Bill and Cherry recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary in a fitting tribute to a life filled with love.
Cherry was a unique woman of many interests and talents including: sewing, playing piano, swimming, horseback riding, water skiing, and driving the boat at Lake Travis (Cherry trailered the boat-even at night). She was an avid reader and a huge sports fan. Her soul loved baseball (the Astros) and college football (Texas Longhorns), and her friends knew not to call when The Game was on. She never missed her son’s baseball games, eventually becoming one of the only women umpires calling balls and strikes behind home plate; completing all umpire duty rotations for several seasons of Little League and Pony Colt baseball. Cherry adored animals, especially horses and dogs. She was an AKC dog breeder for German Shepherds, awarded competition ribbons showing her Bloodhound in dog shows, and rescued multiple Greyhounds off the race tracks.
Cherry loved teaching-her career spanned almost 30 years across four schools: Round Rock High School, Chisholm Trail Middle School, Elgin High School, and Hutto High School. She was a spirited history and government teacher, twice voted by her teacher peers as “Teacher of the Year” at Elgin High and Hutto High Schools. She also worked during the summers, earning her real estate license and owning an independent real estate business with Bill.
Cherry’s life was a model Christian’s life, spreading God’s Word through World Bible School lessons, Baskets for Babies, World English Institute, and ministering in nursing homes. Her gift from God was glorifying Him through her teachings of Jesus in women’s Bible classes, training young girls to serve, and lead online Bible studies and prayer sessions. She was a model of hospitality, entertaining new church members in her home, inviting youth groups over for devotionals and pizza, hosting a multitude of wedding and baby showers, and throwing countless dinner parties. She always put God first and planned her day accordingly; serving as Christ’s hands and feet in her community. Cherry’s deepest longing is for all her loved ones to meet again one glorious day at Jesus’ feet.
Cherry Bernard is preceded in death by: her parents Roy and Ira Mae Thomas, her precious unborn child, parents-in-law Virgil and Grace Bernard, sister-in-law Paula Bagby, brother-in-law Joe Bagby, sister-in-law Sue Hancock. Cherry is survived and lovingly remembered by: her husband Bill Bernard of Round Rock, son Brad Bernard and wife Heather of College Station, daughter Sumer Perkins and husband Shaun of Round Rock, sister Patty Thomas of Rockdale, grandsons Jacob Bernard and Wyatt Perkins, her brother-in-law Bernie Bernard of College Station, and many dear cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family would be honored to have your presence at Cherry Bernard’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Westside Church of Christ, located at 3300 RM 1431, Round Rock, TX 78681.
In lieu of flowers, please glorify God through volunteering time or donations to Cherry’s favorite charities: Baskets for Babies (Westside Church of Christ), Round Rock Area Serving Center, World Bible School, World English Institute, or Eastern European Missions.