DENMARK — Cherylene “Chery” (Hale) Booker, 73, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at Maine Medical Center after complications from a sudden and short battle with cancer. 

She was born in Portland, Maine, on March 26, 1946, a daughter of the late Norman and Melva (Cram) Hale. Chery was raised in Denmark, Maine. After graduating from Fryeburg Academy, she worked at an insurance company in Portland. She met and married Jimmy Booker, a Texan stationed at Dow AFB in Bangor, Maine, in 1965. She spent the next 21 years traveling and being an Air Force wife.

Chery and Jim were stationed at Bangor, Maine; Barksdale, Louisiana; Scott AFB, Illinois; Austin, Texas; Ogden, Utah; Kaiserslautern, Germany; and Little Rock, Arkansas. While in Germany, Chery traveled with her family throughout Europe, but her favorite spot was the Keukenhof in Holland to see all the beautiful tulips, windmills and many fields of flowers. She loved flowers! Chery and Jim finally settled back in Denmark when he retired from the military, where they then pursued their dream of building their log cabin.

Chery was a devoted daughter, sister, wife and mother. She also worked for the Salvation Army while living in Texas, and the Permaloy Corporation while living in Utah. Chery’s father, Norman Hale, worked for the Town of Denmark for 30 years, and in 1995, Chery began to follow in his footsteps as Deputy Clerk. Later, in the position of Administrative Assistant for the town, she wore many hats. She was Town Clerk, Administrative Assistant, Treasurer, Tax Collector, Excise Tax Collector, Secretary to the Selectmen and Registrar. She also served on the Budget Committee from 2019 to present, the Charter Commission from 2017 to present, and as Secretary and Treasurer of the L.A. Berry Cemetery Association. Chery has always been extremely proud of her town and cared very much for the community and it’s people. After dedicating 20 years of service to the Town of Denmark, she retired in 2015. 

Chery enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, crocheting, crafting, gardening, listening to the Bell Ringers of Pinetree Academy, post-it notes…ha ha, and many fun and memorable road trips with her daughter. She was always working on her “bucket list.” She enjoyed being up in the Eiffel Tower in Paris; attending a luau in Hawaii; seeing the Grand Canyon while visiting in Arizona; seeing New York City from the Empire State Building; parasailing, pontoon boating and helicopter rides in Florida; and riding in a hot air balloon in New Mexico. She had an adventurous soul and was up to trying anything! 

Chery is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jim Booker, and their two children, Tina (Booker) Johnson of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., and Leddy Booker of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Dianne (Lane) Durgin of Mechanic Falls, Maine; three grandchildren, Alicia (Johnson) Testerman of N.J., Kayla (Johnson) Brennan of Fla., and Jordin Booker of Ariz., as well as three great-grandchildren, Damien, Kyle and Elena; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as close friends she loved dearly. 

The viewing and funeral service was held on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home in Cornish, Maine. Her burial will take place in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation to either the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Childrens’ Research Hospital. To leave a condolence message and view the obituary, go to the website for Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home at www.mainefuneral.com