Cheryl Ann Kottke, 46, of Oak Harbor, died suddenly as the result of an accident on May 19, 2011. She was born Feb. 6, 1965, in Parkersburg, W.Va., to Phillip O. and Norma A. Schrider.

Cheryl attended schools in Parkersburg, graduating from Parkersburg High School in 1983.

Cheryl joined the U.S. Navy in 1984 and qualified as a hospital corpsman and an emergency medical technician. In 1988, she transferred to China Lake, Calif., where she met Mark Kottke. She served in the Navy until 1990.

In 1988 she shanghaied Mark to Las Vegas where they were married. Life was filled with camping, hiking, walking on the beach, four wheeling and finally owning her own horses which she absolutely loved.

Cheryl was an amazing, incredible, thought-provoking, guiding mother, strongly patriotic, loved the earth, nature and animals. She loved being a para educator for the Anacortes School District. She was very proud of her students, past and present.

Cheryl is survived by her husband, Mark, and daughter, Samantha, at the family home and her mother Norma and brother, Mark, of Parkersburg, W.Va.

A visitation for Cheryl was held May 26 followed by a gathering and sharing of memories at Burley Funeral Chapel.

The family is requesting letters to Cheryl/family about what she meant to all who wish to participate. The letters will be incorporated in to a family memorial about Cheryl. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel where friends may go online at www.burleyfuneral

chapel.com to sign a guest register and leave memories for the family.