10/05/2025
Obituary For Michael Herb Cheula
On the morning of Tuesday September 30, 2025, the community of Mt. Shasta and the surrounding Southern Siskiyou area suffered a profound and deeply personal loss when Michael Herb Cheula ( "Mike") passed from the physical world.
Mike was born on November 17, 1955 at the McCloud Hospital to Herb and Darlene Cheula, first joining his older sister Leslie at the Cheula home in Mount Shasta before becoming a big brother to Matthew and Melanie in the 1960s. Mike ascended through the local school system, graduating Mount Shasta High School in 1974 before attending College of the Siskiyous. During childhood, his days centered on sports, but in adulthood, athletics quickly gave way to hunting and fishing trips with family and friends -- times that would influence every aspect of Mike's life going forward. Deer, duck and elk hunts, coupled with foraging for boletus during the family's annual mushroom-hunting events, were his favorite times of year. The mushroom outings continued through this last spring, while he was fortunate to have participated in a deer harvest the day before he died: skinning the buck his son shot at the edge of the McCloud River earlier that morning.
Mike's life took permanent shape when he married local girl Terry Berger in the early 1980s. Soon after the wedding, the newlyweds moved into Terry's grandfather's house on Oak Street in Mount Shasta and were eventually blessed with two children: Shannon in 1996; and Christopher two years later, in 1998. Mike and Terry had waited a long time to have children, and they were extremely proud and supportive parents, instilling the same belief system and moral code they both lived by in their two kids. Unfortunately, the home the young parents were building would be tragically torn apart when Mike and the kids lost Terry to cancer on January 2, 2011. After his wife died, Mike’s character was truly put on display, and he excelled in this dual role of mother and father -- successfully raising Shannon and Chris as a single parent while simultaneously operating his always-in-demand electrical business. Despite Mike's intense 7-day-a-week work schedule, he somehow found the time for school concerts, sporting events, field trips, or just-for-fun outings with the kids. As Shannon and Chris recently reflected after losing their dad, Mike's continued guidance and thoughtful advice will serve as a daily reminder of his love and concern for them while laying the foundation for their future success.
Following Terry's death, Mike was blessed again when he was given a second chance at love -- forging a deep relationship with his long-time companion, Patty McCarthy, of Mount Shasta. Over time, Patty became Mike's best friend and the central focus of his life as the two shared all their free time together, enjoying snowmobiling trips across the fresh January powder the most of all.
Mike's commitment to family was unmatched, but he also thrived as a cornerstone-presence in his community. As an electrician, Mike enjoyed an almost iconic status -- his allegiance to his network of lifelong friends and customers predicated on mutual trust and fairness. Mike knew people depended on him and his unique ability to make sense of complex wiring systems. In turn, he would take calls at all times of the day or night: texting his customers trouble-shooting advice until he could reach them, giving up a weekend fishing or hunting trip because an older lady's well motor froze and she was without any water. Cheula Electric was more than a business to Mike -- he saw himself as a conduit of sorts, linking the ideals of "the 1950s Mount Shasta" to these modern times. In short, Mike wasn't just an electrician in the phone book to his long-time customers and to his legion of friends, he was an actual part of their lives and an extension of their homes and his death will be mourned by many on many levels for years to come.
As family and friends, we will eventually make our way through Mike's passing, but we will never get over the loss. Nonetheless, we will forever take comfort in knowing Mike left nothing on the table. Although too short, he lived his life as he wanted, enjoying every moment while leaving lasting memories behind for the people he touched. In the end, we will always remember him at peace during his most private moments: playing with his beloved dogs Louie and Delilah, or strumming his guitar all alone in the music room. And as we remember him, we will celebrate a life well-lived.
Mike is survived by his mother Darlene Cheula of Redding; son Christopher Cheula of San Jose; daughter Shannon Cheula of Klamath Falls; sister Leslie Derr (Dennis) of Redding; brother Matthew Cheula (Wendy) of Mount Shasta; and companion Patty McCarthy of Mount Shasta. He was preceded in death by his wife Terry Berger Cheula; Father Herb Cheula; Sister Melanie Cheula; Mother-in-law Ida Berger; Father-in-law Jack Berger; and Brother-in-law John Berger.
The family will plan a celebration of life at a future date.
