Cheryll Ann Halsey passed away Jan. 5, 2015, at her home in Mountain View, Hawaii. Cheryll could be described in many ways: a published author, an artist, an avid scholar who loved the history of the Pacific Northwest, especially the Native American History, a cowgirl, a mother, a grandmother (Nana), a person who had the gift of believing in you even when you doubted yourself! She always seemed to have an open mind to new ideas or thoughts. Someone once described her as like a butterfly, full of grace and beauty but never settling in one spot too long.

Cheryll was born to Max Halsey and Joan (Grant) Halsey on June 21, 1939, in Idaho. Her father was in the service, so when her little brother (Gordon) was born, they were living in California. Later her mom and sibling moved back to the Lewiston area, and as a teenager she began her "cowboy era" when Joan married Cheryll's stepdad, Clark Mason. Cheryll graduated from Lewiston High School and shortly after married Jim McKenzie. They had four children: Jame', Lisa, Laural and Joel. They lived on several different ranches in the Lewiston and McCall areas.

Cheryll had always been drawn to Hawaii, where her dad, Max, lived, so when she and Jim parted, that is where she went for a brief time. Once again her life was torn between the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, so she returned to the mainland and met Cliff Blanford, whom she married. They lived in Richland, and during this time she and another historian, Bob Beale from Pomeroy, did extensive research on the Lewis-Clark Trail. Cheryll was a member of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, publishing several books for the bicentennial of the trip that Lewis and Clark made across the Northwest.

Then once again Hawaii pulled her back! Over the next 20 years she moved back and forth between the Northwest and Hawaii, always torn between her love of her family and the love she had for Hawaii and the culture and people there. During this time she returned to and graduated from college with a double major from the University of Hawaii. At the time of her death - she was living on the big island - her wish was to leave the hospital and go to her island home, where she could leave this earth peacefully, surrounded by her dogs, her children, some of her grandchildren and her friend Dave. Her children all worked so very hard to accomplish what their Mom wanted, and I know she is so proud of them and happy that they were with her.

She was preceded in death by her mom, Joan Vincent; dad Max Halsey; brother Gordon Halsey; and granddaughter Shantelle Scott (for whom Cheryll sold some of her artwork to set up a scholarship fund in Shantelle's honor).

She is survived by sons Jame' McKenzie of California and Joel McKenzie of Seattle; daughters Lisa (AJ) Lujan of Viola and Laural (Tod) Kiblen of Moscow; her sisters, Frances Richie of Moses Lake, Wash., and Alberta (Steve) Cannon of Marlin, Wash.; stepbrother Russ Mason; grandchildren Rial Mckenzie, Damien McWilliams, Alana Lujan,

Olivia Lujan and James Scott; great-grandson Fenix Scott; her friend Dave in Hawaii; and many cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as an uncle, Boyd Harrison.

Aloha, Cheryll!