Cheryl L. Elko

Cheryl Lynn Elko, 79, of Westfield, Indiana, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2026, with her son and daughter-in-law at her side. She was born on November 13, 1946, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to parents, Ed Browning and Irene (Rogers) Browning, and grew up in Noblesville.

Cheryl (originally Shirley Faye) was the youngest of 15 children (yes, 15!). After her father passed away when she was just 3 or 4, her mother spent much of her time working and providing for her children and Cheryl would often joke that she was raised as much by her 14 brothers and sisters as she was by her parents. She always spoke fondly of her time growing up in Noblesville despite those often-tough times, which helped shape her work ethic and forged her into the strong woman she became.

After graduating high school, Cheryl married her first husband in March of 1969. Her first daughter, Sonya, was born later that year on December 7th and she was so happy to be starting the family she had always wanted. After divorcing this first husband, Cheryl moved with Sonya to California for a brief time to live with her sister. After moving back to Indiana, she found a job and worked as a single mother with help from her own mother, Irene, and those sisters that still lived nearby.

In 1972, one of Cheryl's sisters told her about a guy she worked with that she just HAD to meet. He had been discharged from the US Army a couple of years prior after finishing his combat tour of duty in Vietnam and was working as a technical drafting engineer. Cheryl was introduced to Terry Elko, and the two quickly became an "item." They were married in 1973 and Terry legally adopted little Sonya, and the three of them moved into an apartment in Carmel. Their son, Terry Elko Jr. (T.J.) followed in 1974. Tragedy struck in January of 1978 when Sonya became ill with a mild case of chicken pox that worsened until she suddenly passed away just days later from Reye's Syndrome. Cheryl carried this loss with her for the rest of her life, and it helped shape her protective-mother's attitude from then on.

In March of 1978 Cheryl and Terry were blessed with their daughter, Sarah (Elko) Magee. Shortly after Sarah was born, the four moved into their newly built home in Westfield on Sleepy Hollow Drive. This will continue to be their family home for the next 47 years. Cheryl and Terry eventually divorced in 1994 but remained close friends and always supported each other. At birthdays and other family get-togethers over the years to come, they could often be seen talking and sharing a laugh.

Cheryl always loved children and had always wanted to be a nurse in a NICU. She never got that chance, but funneled that love of children into something...similar?? She got her CDL license in 1997 and became a school bus driver for Carmel Clay Schools; a job she absolutely loved until her health caused her to retire after 19 years of service. She loved spending time with her elementary school kids and especially enjoyed the routes that allowed her to help the children with special needs. When organizing her personal items after she passed, many of the small notes, drawings, and gifts given to her over the years from her "bus kids" were found, a testament to how much she cherished her role.

Cheryl loved being "Granny" to her grandkids, Jakob and Emma, and would babysit them over the years any chance she got. When Emma was born, the first thing Granny did was pick her up and kiss her diapered backside. With a grin she explained, "that's for when she is a snotty teenager and tells me to kiss her ass, I can tell her I already did!"

Cheryl enjoyed her retirement as much as someone that has only known hard work their whole life could. She felt guilty for not working, but her health prevented her from doing the tough manual labor jobs and activities she enjoyed. She didn't slow down too much though, until a fall and a couple of damaged vertebras forced her into an assisted living apartment after she finished her rehab. Initially resistant to this new experience because of how independent she had always been, she quickly took to the caring staff and friendly neighbors, and it was nice to see her zooming down the halls in her motorized chair as staff and residents greeted her along the way. She became quite an expert Bingo player and was quick to tell us how many times she won, and that they had to put a limit on the number of prizes the winners could get each session because of her.

Cheryl finally got her most precious wish granted when she passed away, peacefully and quietly, to once again be with her Sonya. Cheryl, Granny, and, most importantly, Mom, will be missed by those she leaves behind, and we will remember her the way she would want; with smiles, laughs, and jokes.

Cheryl is survived by her children, TJ (Lisa) Elko and Sarah Elko Magee; grandchildren, Emma Sonya-Rose Elko and Jakob Poore.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sonya Yvette Elko; her husband, Terry Elko; her parents; and her brothers and sisters.

Services will be private for her immediate family.