Denise Lynn Cherry, 68, of Crystal City died Sept. 18, 2026, at the Collins House in Festus. Mrs. Cherry was raised along with her three siblings on the family farm in rural Ste. Genevieve County and attended school in Ste. Genevieve until her family purchased a farm and moved to St. Francois County. She graduated from North County High School and attended Mineral Area Community College. She remained friends with all her childhood friends and continued making many more friendships throughout her life. She was employed by Missouri Natural Gas (Laclede Gas Co., currently Spire) for more than 34 years and retired as Festus office manager. At work, she was respected and considered a friend by her colleagues. She will be remembered for her personality and infectious laughter that could light up a room. Born March 17, 1958, in Festus, she was the daughter of the late Berneda Philomena (Roth) and Frederick Matthew Fisher.
She is survived by her husband: Patrick Cole Cherry, whom she married on May 5, 1990, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in rural Festus; three children: Nicholas Andrew (Stephanie Lynne Schilly) Masterson of Hillsboro, Audra Lyn (Justin Leroy) Womack of Herculaneum and Cole Wesley (Gina Elyse Svare) Cherry of Solon, Iowa; seven grandchildren: Annabelle Lynne Masterson, Claire Frances Masterson, Emelia Quinn Masterson, Thomas Hanley Womack, Nora Ann Womack, Clyde Patrick Cherry and Delaney Ann Cherry; two brothers: Garry (Paula) Fisher of French Village and Glenn (Kathy) Fisher of Crystal City; a sister: Debbie (Terry Broocke) Fisher of Jonesburg; her aunt and uncle: Jessie and Melvin Roth of Bloomsdale; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother-in-law: Jimmy (Minta A. survives of Osceola, Ark.) Lynch; a sister-in-law: Cynthia (Hanley E. survives of Crystal City) Cherry; and her close friend: Pam Monia.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 555 Bailey Road, in Crystal City, officiated by Father Stephen Lian. Interment will follow in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.