Cheryl Anne Roth

Cheryl Anne Roth passed away peacefully at home after an extended illness on January 10, 2026. Born to Charlie and Alene Cooper at the base dispensary, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, she enjoyed seeing the United States and the world as the daughter of a career Navy man. The highlight of being in her Navy family was living in Italy and traveling throughout Europe during family vacations. After her father’s retirement from the service, the family settled in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. She attended high school at Glynn Academy in nearby Brunswick and furthered her education at Tift College (B.A.) and the University of Georgia (M.Ed.) and continued her teaching career in Athens, Georgia.

It was here that the Navy once again entered her life. Forty-five years ago, she met a Navy man, James, who was stationed in Athens. They were both single parents at the time. It was not long before they married and had a blended family with two young boys. Cheryl and James raised both as their own sons. When James was sent on sea duty for two years, she remained in Athens and ensured that the family and household were taken care of in addition to her teaching position. A double full-time job.

When it was time to retire from the Navy, Cheryl and James moved to White Rock, New Mexico, to begin the next chapter of their lives. While James worked for local government, Cheryl continued her teaching career in Los Alamos.

After her family, she loved teaching above all else. She taught for thirty-seven years and finished her career teaching high school AP Literature. Literature was one of her passions. Cheryl was always finding and enjoying a new book, bound or electronically. She was the most satisfied when helping her students discover and develop critical thinking skills through literature. What meant most to her was when former students wrote to her thanking her for the way she prepared them for higher education and beyond.

Cheryl had natural artistic talents. After her retirement Cheryl and James moved to Santa Fe so that she could be close to her many friends and activities. She held volunteer positions at the Museum of International Folk Art and the Santa Fe opera. She found joy in these activities and attended to them as long as she was able.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alene and Charlie Cooper, and is survived by husband James, sons Louis Gibbes III and Justin Roth, brother Charles (Helen) Cooper, niece Adra Lobdell and nephew Bryce Cooper, and best friend Nancy Spencer. She also leaves behind many good friends and colleagues. Special thanks are given to Ambercare hospice caregivers Jeannie and Miriam who made her last year at home as comfortable as possible.