Meet Cheryl Lloyd

A woman of many interests, talents, and travels

If you’re prone to envy, don’t read this. Cheryl Loyd’s life is one a many of us will only dream of. But if you enjoy amazing people, stories, and experiences, read on.

Cheryl Lloyd takes flexibility to an art form. She quickly adapts her talents—and life—to varied activities, careers, and locations. A native of Orange County, CA, Cheryl inherited her mom’s artistry and her dad’s musicianship (trumpet) among other things. While her brother played sports, Cheryl played clarinet, rising to first chair, in the El Toro High School band.

After graduation, Cheryl accompanied their band on a trip to Australia. Her artistry led her to a career in cosmetology as a hairstylist. From there, Cheryl made healthcare clinics and ERs move smoothly with her organizational skills and affable personality. A real believer in family, legacies, and preserving memories, Cheryl also began scrapbooking.

Let the Adventures Begin

Despite her location, Cheryl was a Vikings fan and joined the Southern California Viking Fan Club. The club hosted dinners featuring current and former Vikings players, including Jim Marshall. “Oh, the stories...” Cheryl says.

When Cheryl met and married Paul, she became the mother of Paul’s two daughters. Ecolab, Paul’s employer, transferred them to Maryland, where Cheryl continued scrapbooking. She fondly remembers a Potomac River dinner cruise, and the patriotism inspired by the famous DC monuments and Kennedy Center aglow in night lights. Thereafter, they returned to Minnesota. Global excursions followed, starting with a five-year stay in Dubai.

Life in Dubai

Cheryl’s movers packed eighty pounds of her scrapbooks and materials. She wisely knew she’d need them to preserve and share their experiences abroad. Cheryl says Dubai squelched the stereotypes of Middle Eastern life. She notes that many Muslim traditions labeled “sexist” in America are based on respect for women. She and Paul savored Dubai (despite heat indexes reaching 140 degrees) and the people they grew to love.

Cheryl also expanded her artistry, creating mosaics and painting silk. Cheryl’s camera got no rest in Dubai—day or night.

On to Switzerland

From Dubai, Paul transferred to Switzerland. They lived outside Zurich and inhaled the beauty and traditions of that much-heralded country. One vacation included a train trip from Zurich to Milan, Italy, then to Genoa (home to Cheryl’s ancestors). Cheryl explored her family’s roots, including the cemeteries of her ancestors. (Her camera was on overtime.) Next stop: Toronto. Then back to the Twin Cities.

Minnesota and More Photo Preservation

Now Cheryl revels in Beth Gibson Lilja’s services and her company, BGL & Associates, LLC. She attends Beth’s photo preservation retreats, workshops, and events. Cheryl also treasures the new friends she’s made through Beth, and by becoming a FOREVER® Ambassador (helping others with digital memory preservation).

Cheryl on Beth

Cheryl says, “Beth is immensely helpful. She’s easy to talk to and really wants to help people keep memories going. Beth’s always there to help, whether in class, by phone, or email. Plus, Beth’s always attending conferences, expanding her knowledge, and sharing it with us. So, we get the ‘latest, up to date’ information on all things—especially digital preservation of memories.”

What a life Cheryl leads, and with Beth and BGL & Associates, LLC, Cheryl’s preserving it for generations to come.