Obituary of Cheryl Lynn Gilbert Ellis

Cheryl Lynn Gilbert Ellis, 59, of Frankfort, passed away on March 20, 2023 after a brief but intense battle with cancer.

Cheryl was born on September 3, 1963 to Lowell Eugene and Mary Ann Gilbert in Corbin, Kentucky, which is the place she felt most at “home” her whole life. She attended Lynn Camp High School, graduating in 1981. The 1981 edition of Lynn Camp’s yearbook showcases what a bright, involved student she was, featuring Cheryl on almost every page. She served as senior class treasurer, was involved in Future Homemakers of America (FHA) and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), was voted “Most Popular” by her peers, and was the 1980 Homecoming Queen.

Cheryl graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a business degree in marketing. She spent her career working for Kentucky state government in Frankfort, retiring from the Transportation Cabinet in 2016. Cheryl’s smile lit up the hallways of every office she worked for, and she was known for being friendly and offering a kind word to everyone. Many of her coworkers became lifelong friends.

Cheryl enjoyed learning new things and loved to have a “project” to work on, which was usually related to home-improvement, sewing, or gardening. She was also an avid walker and you could find her walking around the neighborhood most evenings. She had a great sense of humor and loved to watch stand-up comedy. Cheryl also loved a good mystery novel and learning about all things “unknown.” We take solace in knowing she now knows the truth behind bigfoot, aliens, and astrology.

Cheryl loved her friends and family dearly. She was extremely proud of her only child, Julia, and her grandson, Ezra. The world became darker the day she left this earth, but heaven is now that much brighter and gained the most beautiful angel.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her grandparents, Andrew and Rose Culver and Millard and Myrtle Gilbert, her father-in-law Philip Ellis, her cousins, Connie High and Steven Gilbert, and many beloved aunts and uncles. She is survived by her mother Mary Ann Gilbert, father Lowell Eugene Gilbert, daughter Julia Ellis Sandifer (Matt), grandson Ezra Sandifer, brothers Travis (Katie) and David (Wendy) Gilbert, sisters-in-law Philda (Jeff) Simpson and Karen Penn, mother-in-law Lena Ellis, husband, Michael Todd Ellis, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Pallbearers will be Matt Sandifer, Benjamin Gilbert, John Purdy, Jadie Tomlinson, Tim Hockensmith, and Nicholas Richardson.

A public visitation will be held Monday, March 27th from 5-8pm, with a private family hour to be held from 4-5pm, at Clark Legacy in Frankfort. The funeral will be held Tuesday, March 28th at 1pm with Pastor Tony Herald officiating, and burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.