Lorrain Cheryl Nigg

Lorraine Cheryl Johnson Nigg, of Tijeras, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at age 74. She was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, graduating from Kalamazoo Central in 1966. After obtaining degrees from Western Michigan University, she relocated to New Mexico where she completed a doctorate at University of New Mexico. She taught within the Laguna Pueblo School system prior to a career with Albuquerque Public Schools from which she retired.

An avid outdoors woman, she lived in and nurtured her love for nature primarily in the Pecos and Manzano wilderness areas. Cheryl was an active member of Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico - Pecos Chapter, serving as president for several years. As an integral member of the Community Emergency Responders Team (CERT), she developed readiness guides and conducted numerous trainings. Cheryl was a mentor to many, sharing her knowledge of the back country, trail work, packing with mules, and survival techniques.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents Vern and Margaret (James) Johnson, and her brother Noel Johnson. She is survived by her brother Alwyn V. Johnson and his wife Susan of Interlochen, Michigan, and a host of dear friends and acquaintances in New Mexico and Michigan. She will be fondly remembered as an adventurous, honest, hardworking, dependable strong woman who dearly loved the wilderness and all that life could hold.

A memorial and celebration of Cheryl's life will beheld at her home on Tuesday, 31st May starting at 5:30 p.m.

Donations can be made to:
Back Country Horsemen of NM, Inc.
Attn: Amber Kingsbury, Treasurer
Cheryl Nigg Charitable Fund
PO Box 2706
Edgewood, NM 87015

Direct donations in Cheryl's name can be sent to:

Cloud Dancers Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, Inc.
2309 Inez Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
www.clouddancersthp.org

New Mexico Horse Rescue at
Walkin N Circles Ranch, Inc.
PO Box 626
Edgewood, NM 87015
www.wncr.org/take-action

New Mexico Wildfire Relief Efforts: https://www.globalgiving.org/
projects/new-mexico-wildfire-relief-fund/ https://www.redcross.org/
local/az-nm.html https://www.alltogethernm.org/