Cheryl Vicknair Rainwater

Friday, January 31, 2025
Cheryl Vicknair Rainwater

Published in Jennings Daily News January 31, 2025

JENNINGS — Many adventures began shortly after the first day of Spring, March 23, 1955, when Cheryl Faye Vicknair was born at the Jennings American Legion Hospital.

Cheryl’s childhood was filled with adventures, from flying in the hopper of her father’s AG-CAT crop duster as a child to gaining her license as a teenager and flying solo in her hometown. Cheryl also delivered milk jugs and earned the nickname “Crazy Legs Vicknair” while playing basketball. If not water skiing on the Mermentau River, you might find her riding bareback or skinny dipping in a lake with friends whom she kept her entire life.

As accomplished and well-traveled as she became – Cheryl was most proud and most fond of her hometown. She enrolled at McNeese State University but dropped out after contracting Guillain-Barre syndrome, which paralyzed her for a year. She bounced back and then began a successful Insurance career in Boulder, Colo. During that time, she was blessed with two beautiful children — Grayson and Hannelore. Cheryl soon continued her adventure to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, enrolling her children in the esteemed American School.

Cheryl gave herself the nickname “Maartita La Reina,” and many who knew her would say she was the unofficial mayor of that beautiful town.

Cheryl understood loss and heartache, accomplishments and courage. Her only son Grayson, a disabled U.S. Army veteran, passed at the age of 27. Every time Cheryl had the opportunity to shake a veteran’s hand and salute them, she did. She went out of her way to make a veteran smile.

Cheryl knew happiness as she found the love of her life, Michael Rainwater, an Iraq veteran, who also absolutely found the love of his life as well. They remained married and in love when COPD claimed her last breath on the first day of winter, Dec. 21, 2024. She passed peacefully in her home in Willis, Texas, as Cheryl Vicknair Hein.

Cheryl is survived by her brother Richard Ray, daughter Hannalore and devoted husband Michael Rainwater.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Miguez Funeral Home in Jennings. A celebration of life will be held immediately following in the funeral home chapel.

In the lieu of flowers, it would make Cheryl’s heart smile for donations to be made in her name to the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home, located at 1610 Evangeline Hwy. in Jennings.

Please know that her adventures will continue in the spirit just as she has touched the hearts of many, many souls, according to her husband.

“She simply has my heart, and she will accompany me on all the adventures that lie ahead.”