Cher's longtime father figure has died in Oklahoma after a battle with ill health.
Gilbert LaPiere, who adopted the singer after marrying her mother Georgia, passed away in Oklahoma City on Tuesday (07Feb12) at the age of 88.
LaPiere recently suffered a heart attack and also fractured his hip, according to the Associated Press.
His daughter Verna Bullock insists her father remained close to Cher following his split from her mother.