Mom, teen son who died after Apple Valley crash leave legacy of love, daughter says

Brittany Richardson fought back tears when she explained that losing her mother and brother created a pain she never knew existed.

On Memorial Day weekend, Cheryl Lynn Moyer and her son, Micah James Moyer were involved in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 18 in Apple Valley.

Micah suffered a severe brain injury and was rushed to a trauma center. His mother, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene, the family said.

Brittany described her mother as a “cherished friend, and a beacon of light in her community,” while saying her brother was “a vibrant young soul with a promising future.”

Upholding a promise

Brittany confessed that on May 25, her “entire world stopped” when she received the devastating news that her mother was gone.

As the family grieved Cheryl’s death, Micah was on life support with Brittany holding his hand for 10 days straight until doctors declared that he had died.

“I was 17 years old when I held my mother’s hand in a delivery room while she gave birth to Micah,” Brittany said. “Since that day, I promised that I would always be there for him. I wanted to uphold that promise.”

On May 30, Micah, who Brittany “deeply loved,” died surrounded by family and friends.

Brittany said she was honored to be Micah’s sister and her mother’s daughter.

“The pain is indescribable for me and I know that same pain is shared by many who knew and loved them both deeply,” Brittany said. “Yet, I find solace in being able to share their beautiful souls with others, and my prayer is that through these words, you would hear my heart.”

As Brittany attempted to convey her thoughts about her mother and brother, she asked how it was possible, to sum up in words the two most important people in her life.

“The only way I can even attempt to convey my feelings for both of these incredible people is by love,” she said.

Praying for a miracle

Chris Moyer explained that while the family was grieving Cheryl’s death, they were also hoping and praying for a miracle for Micah.

After a long and grueling 10 days, Micah was rolled out of the ICU and toward an organ transplant team.

“On our journey to the [operating room], the hallways were lined with dozens, perhaps hundreds of hospital staff, who were holding candles paying honor and tribute to Micah and our family,” Chris said. “They gathered to support us, and prayed together with us afterward, culminating a week and a half of the most compassionate and professional care we could have ever imagined in a hospital setting.”

Chris said words cannot thank hospital staff enough, just like words cannot sufficiently express his family's gratitude for the prayers and encouragement they’ve received throughout an incredibly difficult time.

On Father’s Day, Chris took to social media to share a Bible passage from the Book of Romans, which states: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Cheryl Lynn Roshala

Cheryl Lynn Roshala was born on Feb. 5, 1968, to parents John and Charlene Roshala in San Gabriel.

“From early on, everyone could see that my mom had a heart that longed to positively impact the world around her. And that’s exactly what she did,” Brittany said.

A lover of adventure and activity, Cheryl participated in various sports during her school years and sought to explore the world as she ventured into adulthood, her daughter said.

Brittany confessed that the appetite for exciting exploration was something that she inherited from her mother.

“If you ever needed someone to call who would be down to go just about anywhere, my mom was your girl,” Brittany said. “This free-spirited nature within her would continue throughout the rest of her life, as up until recently, she even asked if I wanted to go shark-diving with her. Unfortunately, we never got that opportunity.”

“As an eager entrepreneur, my mom owned her own notary and bookkeeping business and was a woman who always was the first one to lend a helping hand,” Brittany said.

Cheryl took on the role of President of the High Desert Republican Women Federated and held a seat on the High Desert Youth Soccer League Board.

“Perhaps my mom was overly ambitious at times, but she would always say her proudest achievement in life was being a mom to myself, my brother Cristian and my baby brother Micah,” Brittany said.

Micah James Moyer

“When Micah entered the world on April 7, 2007, my whole life changed,” Brittany said. “An overwhelming downpour of love rushed over me the moment I held him for the first time.”

Brittany explained that before Micah was born, she had never experienced that type of love. She added that as long as he lived, Micah would continue to express a deep love for his sister, and to everyone who knew him.

“For the first few years of his life, my baby brother thought he was a dinosaur, namely a T-Rex since he greeted everyone with a roar and growl every chance he got,” Brittany said.

As he grew, Micah could always be found with a baseball in one hand and a glove in the other, ready to play catch at any moment, his family said.

“Micah’s knowledge and love of the game was truly unmatched and admired by his coaches and teammates throughout the years, even into his high school years at the Academy for Academic Excellence,” Brittany said.

Micah was a one-of-a-kind ball player and seemed to excel in any sport he participated in, including varsity volleyball, she said.

But of all sports, baseball held a special place in Micah’s heart. His baseball jersey was No. 27, the number he’d choose to wear year after year because of his well-known love and admiration for the Los Angeles Angels and outfielder Mike Trout.

During games, his teammates could be heard cheering “Let’s go, Micah Trout,” Brittany said.

“But even beyond the field, Micah was someone who would go out of his way to make you laugh or bring a smile to your face, just in the hopes of brightening your day,” she said.

“Micah took after my mom in the way he exhibited true care for others,” Brittany said. “It was also evident in everything he did, which showed that he had the absolute biggest heart.”

Cornerstone of love

Brittany said “love” has been at the very cornerstone of who her mother and brother were.

“When God said that the greatest commandments were to love Him and love others, my mom and brother took that and ran with it,” Brittany said. “They truly lived that out until their last days on this Earth.”

“Love is the legacy they leave behind,” she said. “Love is who my mother and brother were and who they will always be.”

Cheryl and Micah’s celebration of life is scheduled at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 12, at High Desert Church, 14545 Hook Boulevard in Victorville.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Remembering Cheryl and Micah Moyer of Apple Valley