Cherylee R. Wegman-Craig

On Dec. 25, 2023, the Lord called Cherylee R. Wegman-Craig home. Cherylee was born May 11, 1953, in Wasco, to Billie Rae Thurman and Randal Lee Rankin.

Cherylee married Charlie Wegman (deceased) and moved to Missouri in 1974. Cherylee returned to Wasco in 1983. Cherylee met and married the love of her life, Warren A. Craig, on March 5, 2011.

Cherylee had a love for line dancing and participated in many events, including as a line dance instructor. Cherylee also enjoyed visiting the beloved Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, of which she had fond memories; she also enjoyed spending time at her home in Morro Bay.

She was a devout Catholic and attended mass at St. John's the Evangelist Catholic Church. She owned and operated her Cherylee Lawn Service business for many years, where she made many friends and was well known throughout the community.

Cherylee took great pride in her community, was a passionate advocate and worked tirelessly to support the community. She was a member of the Wasco Elks Lodge #2419. Cherylee served on the Wasco City Council for over 20 years. Cherylee became the first female mayor of the City of Wasco in 2001 and served the city as mayor four times. She was honored as Assembly District 32 Woman of the Year in 2018.

Cherylee's community involvement included serving on the California Partnership Board for the San Joaquin Valley, Citizen Advisory Committee at Wasco State Prison, the Association of California Cities Allied with Prisons and was an active member of the Wasco Community Alliance Partnership. In 2006, Cherylee joined the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as a vocational instructor at Kern Valley State Prison. She quickly was promoted to community resource manager in 2008. In 2018, Cherylee was promoted to supervisor of vocational instruction at California Correctional Institution, Tehachapi.

Cherylee became a dedicated board member for the Wasco Union Elementary School District in 2019, where it is said that she made "significant contributions to the district and helped achieve many milestones." Cherylee retired from California state service in November 2021.

Cherylee is survived by her husband, Warren Craig; daughter Connie Wegman and husband Freddy Robledo; sisters Carol Terry (Vard Terry) and Julie Nadal (Aaron Nadal); and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Randal Lee Rankin and Billie Rae Thurman.

Services for Cherylee Wegman will be held on Jan. 26, 2024, at St. Johns The Evangelist Catholic Church. Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 9:30 a.m., Mass of Catholic Burial at 10 a.m., followed by a graveside burial at Wasco Memorial Park at 11 a.m. A reception will be held immediately after at the Wasco Elks Lodge #2419.