Cheryl Godley Estes work here on Earth has been fulfilled. After 55 incredibly full years of life, she joined God and her late father in Heaven after passing away Sunday, November 26, 2017 at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. Her eternal heavenly assignment will include socializing, laughing, hosting family and friends that she hasnt seen in years, and cooking delicious meals for all to enjoy. She was purposefully put on Earth on October 18, 1962 in Beaumont, Texas to Alton and Gladys Hughes Godley by God for the purpose of becoming an impeccable daughter, wife, mother, nannie, aunt, and friend. Cheryl was a lifelong area resident and member of First Baptist Church of Deweyville, a member of several jeep clubs, a lover and rescuer of dogs, an unbelievable singer, a camping junkie, an avid furniture refinisher, and the best gumbo maker. She was an incredible woman of many hats. Cheryl left her career with Matrix/RDS Engineering in the Human Resource Department to live her lifelong dream of staying at home to be a full-time mommy to her children. For those who knew Cheryl, they knew she was an angel here on Earth long before becoming a heavenly one. She had a servants heart and would do anything for her family, friends and people she came across in need. Cheryl exhibited an uncommunicable number of selfless acts of love for others during her time on Earth. To name a few, she was a foster mother to twenty-five children, an active member in her community where she recently fed hundreds of people daily during Hurricane Harvey and donated a vast number of furniture pieces to help families begin rebuilding their lives. After an encounter with Cheryl, you left with an undeniable certainty that you had just become a part of her family. A visitation for family and friends will be Friday, December 1, 2017 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Port Neches. Her celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 2, 2017 also at First Baptist Church in Port Neches with Reverend Damon Bickham of First Baptist Church in Deweyville officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Bluff Memorial Park under the direction of Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches. Cheryl was preceded in death by her father, Alton Godley. She is survived by her loving husband and soul mate, Shane Estes of Mauriceville, mother, Gladys Godley of Port Neches, two daughters, Whintony Ellis and husband Kyle of Deweyville, and Grace Estes of Mauriceville, son, Joseph Estes of Mauriceville, sister, Darla Budd and husband John of Longview, brother, Mark Godley and wife Nancy of Port Neches, two grandchildren Avrie Ellis and Aubrie Ellis, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and a great nephew. Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to: Texas Childrens Hospital, P.O. Box 300630, Suite 5214, Houston, TX 77230, Ronald McDonald House, 1907 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030 or M.D. Anderson Cancer Research, P.O. Box 297153, Houston, TX 77297.
Condolences
Levingston Funeral Home
November 2, 2021
1 file added to the album Obituary Wall
Anonymous
August 4, 2020
Cheryl Godley Estes
Anonymous
December 1, 2017
Prayers and sweet thoughts for the family. No words can express our present sorrow or the joy she now knows in the presence of our Lord. May His strength & peace be with the family.
Anonymous
December 1, 2017
Will really miss you friend. Shane, We are so sorry for your loss and loss Joseph and Grace will feel. You are all in our prayers. We love you, Wade, Lynnette, and Ryan Davis
Anonymous
November 29, 2017
I regret our loss, and I'm praying for your family.
Anonymous
November 29, 2017
I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Our prayers are with y'all in your time of separation from Cheryl until one day we will all be reunited. May God bless y'all and bring His hand upon y'all for comfort & healing.
Anonymous
November 29, 2017
Dear Ashley and family, I am very sorry for your loss and will keep all your family in my thoughts and prayers
Anonymous
November 29, 2017
So sorry to hear about your lost may GODS love and SPIRT through this hard times.
Anonymous
November 29, 2017
We are so sorry about Cheryl. We know she is singing praises to God our father. We will be praying for all of the family. She will be greatly missed by all of us.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
What a beautiful tribute to a special lady. I rejoice in the fact that I know she is with the Lord and at peace. Thoughts of Cheryl will forever remain in our hearts
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Beautifully written! Cheryl was one of a kind. She will be missed forever by those who were left behind. Love lives in!
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Cheryl will always hold a very special place in my heart! I was the lucky one when we became friends, and will always love her, how could you not? Now God has called her Home to serve in Heaven. What a Blessing! I pray for her family to find the strength to smile each time they think of her, as I know she would want you to smile always, every day. My sincerest condolences, and prayers for peace in the days ahead and always.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
" Although our hearts are heavy at the loss of our loved one we also rejoice in her homecoming. Dad and daughter holding hands and sharing memories. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord for one such as Cheryl. Gods comfort and healing to those left behind. We love you.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
I'm so so so sorry. I will be remembering the entire family in my prayers. May God just wrap y'all up in His Love and give you peace, knowing she is with her Daddy.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
I am so very sorry for the loss of Cheryl. She sounds like an incredible person with such a giving spirit. May God's Holy Spirit minister to you in the coming days and months and bring you peace.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Such a sweet Angel now up in Heaven!! She will be missed by all.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Sending prayers of peace and comfort to the family. I will truly miss her and was so blessed to be a friend. There are no words special enough to describe her. She was a blessing to me so many times. I wish everyone in the world could have known her and I wish everyone in the world was as kind, compassionate and loving as she was. She will be missed by so many.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
I had the opportunity to meet Cheryl in the late 90's. She made everyone smile. Her voice was lovely. The world was better because of Cheryl! I am so sorry for the pain you all are experiencing and will pray for you each new day.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Prayers to all the family. Hugs.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Shane, we are so sad to learn of Cheryl's passing. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Prayers to the families. So sorry for UR heartache
Anonymous
November 28, 2017
Cheryl:
the mother to the teenage boy who stole my daughter's heart.
the mother of my daughter's bff
the servant to the least of these andddd those who didn't even need to be served... she simply served everyone and expected nothing in return.
the lady with class even when she walked through a water park?? Who can do that?? Cheryl!
the lady who responded with, "My mantra for today- dress up, show up and never give up"... when I was trying to encourage her just before the biopsy. She stayed positive.
the lady who was by far one of the most easy going folks I knew
the lady who would attend anyyyyyy event, just to make sure her kids were comfy
she was one of the few people I trusted my own kids with
She cooked so well...but she gave all the glory to her husband every single chance she had.
She loved so genuinely
She claimed she was retired...but truth is, her job was harder than most. Homeschooling her kids while running a business painting furniture alllll while holding down the fort at home as well. When kids are home more, they dirty more and eat more....period.
She served me and my husband dinner one night around 9pm when most would be in bed...only because we worked super late trying to recover from Harvey, and she absolutely wouldn't take a rain check. So, dirty and late, WE ATE!
The one who I've grown close to while the kids enjoyed time together... dances, the waterpark, the fair etc etc
The one who made memories with my kids: pumpkin carving, jeep rides, shopping trips, Halloween night candy giving etc
The one who kept an open door understanding with her nieces...that at anytime, they could live with her because she was that close to them
The lady who was up to helping me with any adventure I was on... dances for the homeschool community, feeding a youth group etc etc
meek, humble, kind, courageous, independent
And what's really crazy???.... I have only known her for a year!
She made me feel like her family from day one... as she did with everyone.
She was the same...everyday.
Integrity like none other.
Just an all around blessing to everyone.. Jesus was definitely within her!
She has taught me...that when I would normally not draw close to many friends out of fear of losing them, I'd rather feel the loss. Because to not know her, would have been an even greater loss.
There is so much more to say about this precious person. As I told my own friends who were praying for Cheryl, let's all try to be a Cheryl. Often times, it is hard to help someone understand the true nature of Christ because we can't feel him by touch...nor see him because He past before us..we only have His spirit.... however, Cheryl is a great example of Jesus to me. So, when you simply can't wrap your brain around a relationship with Jesus.... think of Cheryl. She was a servant who was Loving, Kind, Joyful, Patient, Gentle, Self Controlled, Peaceful, Faithful and full of Goodness.....allllll are fruits of the spirit of Christ that were evident in her life.