Larry Cheek

July 5, 2014

William Larry Cheek, age 75, husband of Kaye Cheek, a resident of Columbia and retired Maintenance Foreman from Monsanto, passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 4:00 PM from the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Mike Roberts and Pastor Rick Points. Burial will follow with Military Honors provided by the 101st Airborne Honor Guard in Maury Memorial Gardens. The family will be at the funeral home on Monday, July 7 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM for visitation, and again on Tuesday from 3:00 PM until the service. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Larry was born in Maury County on October 30, 1938, was the son of Marshall Cheek and Lottie Hardison Cheek, and was a member of the Antioch Church of Christ. Following graduation from Columbia Central High School, he joined the United States Army and became a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne. Larry was an avid and accomplished athlete. During his time in service he played baseball with the 101st team and received an invitation to play semi-professional ball with the Cardinals. He also was a boxing champion in the Army. While at Monsanto he played with the Maulers and took part in numerous other sporting events. Larry also loved the Atlanta Braves and Tennessee Vols. To say "Larry was competitive" would be an understatement. He had the pleasure of teaching all the little league sports teams for his children, but didn't have a problem cutting his own children from the roster if it was best for the team. He simply didn't play favorites. To say "Larry wasn't fond of losing" would also be an understatement. He truly believed if you couldn't win, you didn't need to play. Whether he was playing cards, golfing, fishing, hunting or even changing tires on a race car - he had to be the best. Some people would be offended by his level of competiveness, but Larry had the ability to back up his expectations. Even for himself, he quit playing golf when he realized he was no longer able to "compete" for the win. To say "Larry was selfish" would be unfair. Although Larry was self-taught in many areas and loved to win at anything he did, he had a passion for people. Recalling his greatest qualities, his family stated, "he was open-minded and non-judgmental. He stood by his children no matter the circumstances." This is Larry's legacy. Whether he was pulling a prank or giving you (and everyone he met) a nickname, Larry loved people and respected them. As he pushed himself to succeed in all situations, he instilled that quality in others to make them better at life and relationships. Left to honor his legacy are his wife: Jacquelyn Kaye Cheek; four sons: Bill Cheek; Mike & Suzi Cheek, Jamie Cheek & Shane Conner, and Chevy & Susan White; two daughters: Susan Cheek and Rhonda Reed; three brothers: Donald & Gail Cheek, Hubert & Regina Cheek and Myron & Bobbie Cheek; and nine grandchildren: Kristin Cheek, Cole Cheek, Paige Cheek, Natalie Cheek, Austin Reed, Madison Reed, Megan Allen, Addison White and Brilee White. In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his daughter's fiance', Jeffery Powell. Pallbearers will be Emory Cole, Larry Warren, Tommy Cook, Jerry Gunn, Donnie Lovell, David Ring, Austin Reed and Cole Cheek. Honorary Pallbearers will be Larry's Golfing and Fishing Friends and his Monsanto Co-Workers. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Dr, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923 or by contacting the foundation at 1-800-722-HOPE.