Cherry Morton Starr, 89, passed away peacefully at her Birmingham home with her family and close friends at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bart Starr (2019) and her son Bret (1988). She is succeeded by her son Bart Starr, Jr. (Elaena), grandchildren Shannon (Ryan), Jenny, and Lisa, and her six great-grandchildren (Bryan, Teddy, Violet, Dillon, Skyler, and Caden). She was a figurative mother to many more.
Originally from Ohio, she eventually moved to the South, settling in Montgomery, AL, where she attended Sidney Lanier High School. While there, she met her future husband, Bart. Although their personalities were beautifully distinct, they shared, from the beginning, a love for all of mankind and a deep commitment to treat everyone they met with the highest level of dignity and respect.
After attending Auburn University, Cherry married Bart and resided in Tuscaloosa, where they lived until the most important chapter in her life unfolded. She moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where Bart pursued a career in football. Immediately she met a group of citizens throughout the state who, for the rest of her life, brought out the best in her and her husband. Hundreds of times she would cite the thousands of individuals in Wisconsin who demonstrated generosity, compassion, empathy, kindness, and hard work. No trip, anywhere, brought her as much joy as returning to Green Bay.
Her love for the Packers and Green Bay only grew stronger, as did her devotion to Rawhide Boys Ranch, starting in the 1960s and still thriving today. Words cannot express her appreciation towards everyone at Rawhide who has contributed to improving the lives of teenagers who need unconditional love, trust, and confidence. Later, she devoted several decades to help raise money for cancer research, following the death of Vince Lombardi. That work continues today through the Starr Children’s Fund, thanks to the enormous dedication of those in Milwaukee to support research and physicians in numerous cities.
Upon transitioning to one of those cities, Birmingham, AL, Cherry was further blessed to meet an extraordinary group of individuals who again inspired her to contribute to her community. Every week of her life was filled with stories regarding the gracious and considerate individuals she encountered throughout Birmingham and Alabama.
While we are deeply saddened to lose her, we are filled with ineffable joy regarding what is now taking place, per the last note we wrote to her: “For 65 years you and Dad fell in love with each other every day. And while you have been able to hold close to your heart your sweet memories of him, soon you will be able to experience something miraculous: You will be reunited with your best friend, allowing both of you the opportunity to fall even deeper in love, each day, for eternity.”
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choosing, or to the Bart and Cherry Starr Foundation (2647 Rocky Ridge Lane, Birmingham, AL 35216) which supports the causes noted herein.
