Floyd Cheatham

Memorial Service for Floyd Cheatham, 82, of Brownsboro will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens, Texas with Pastor Dewayne Tedfordofficiating. Mr. Cheatham passed away on Saturday Oct. 15, in Athens. Floyd Newton Cheatham, son of Archie Newton and Minnie Leona Wells Cheatham was born on August 26, 1934 in Lindale, TX. He was the seventh of eight children. He lived with his family until his mother’s death four years later in 1938. At which time he was turned over to the Corsicana State Orphans Home. Floyd was very active in sports, FFA and Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston area fat stockshows. After graduating from Corsicana State Home High School he worked various jobs that led himto Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He worked for the Idaho State Highway department until enlisting in the United States Marine Corp in October 1955. He received an honorable discharge as a Corporal. In 1958, he returned to Bonners Ferry and took work with the U.S. Forest Service in the engineering department. In the spring 1964, he met the love of his life, Jeannette Cenfield; they were married six months later on Oct. 29, 1964, and together they had four children. Floyd worked for Louisiana Pacific lumber company in Moyie Springs, Idaho for 32 years, retiring in 2000. Over the years, Floyd and Jeannette took in extra children and animals. Their doors were always open and meal times were often the best times of day with laughter and good food. Floyd worked very hard around the farm raising cattle, hogs, chickens, sheep, horses and his children, who were his pride and joy. Floyd loved to travel and to go camping where he took his family on many extended vacations. He was an outdoorsman who loved hunting, wood working, horseback riding and collecting rocks. His main joy in life was spending time with his family, especially being involved in his grandchildren’s activities. Floyd was a member of the Damascus Baptist Church, of Lindale, TX. Floyd is preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Minnie Cheatham, sister, Emma Hancock, brothers Ray Cheatham, Lloyd Cheatham, Andy Cheatham. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette Cheatham; four children, Wendy Jean Cheatham of Brownsboro,TX, Stephen Wesley Cheathan and wife Laura of Hayden, Idaho. Deborah Lynn Higgins and husband Joseph of Naples, Idaho, Phillip Jason Cheatham and Michele Thiem of Athens, TX. Two sisters, Marietta McElroy of San Diego, CA and Noma Jean Manning of Birmingham, Al, One brother Wayne “TEX” Cheatham of Post Falls, Idaho. Eleven grandchildren; Jessica Lynn Cheatham, Michael Lee WesleyMurphy, Christopher Matthew Cheatham, Stephanie Nichole Vogel, Jacob Vogel, Kevin DonaldCheatham, Cooper Glen Joseph Higgins, Kelsey Jo McKnight, Samantha Leona Cheatham, Haley TaylorCheatham; six great grandchildren, Jada, Jazi, Landon, Wesley, Nolan, and Wyatt and numerousnieces, nephews and cousins.Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21, at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens. Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Family. You may light a memorial candle or write condolences to the family at www.hannigansmith.com.