Donald Ray Cheek

Donald Ray Cheek, 90, of Seagrove, N.C., peacefully departed a long and happy life on Feb. 14, 2022, in Concord, N.C., at the home of his stepdaughter Patricia Garner.

Born in Franklinville, N.C., on Dec. 9, 1931, Don was a middle child in a Great Depression-era family headed by William Thurman and Macie Mae Marley Cheek. He had four brothers and two sisters who lived to adulthood and two sisters who died in infancy. In 1945, the family moved to Asheboro, a town Don and many of the family members continued to call home.

In school, he fell in love with Iona Ross, but Don’s decision to enlist in the Army led them to agree it was best to break up, not knowing what his service would involve. Indeed, he was captured and tortured during the Korean War, suffering experiences that no one could entice him to recount.  

Upon his return to the States, both Iona and Don married others - Don was married to the late Clara Cheek for about 25 years and with her, adopted a daughter - but after both became single again, they rekindled their love and were married in 1978, a reunion of soulmates that lasted until Iona’s passing in 2020.

An electrician by trade, Don loved hard work, a good laugh, his family, animals (most recently, his faithful poodle, Prince), and God. He enjoyed travel and the outdoors, and was generous and kind with strangers and those he loved. He and Iona were the hosts of many happy extended-family gatherings.

In addition to Iona, Don was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, his daughter Lori Cheek Warner, of Sneedville, Tenn., his sisters Mary Cheek Craven, of High Point, N.C., and Louise Cheek Johnston Allred, of Asheboro, his brothers Wade, of Asheboro, and Jesse, of Aurora, Col., two nieces and three nephews. He is survived by his brothers Marvin and Max, his stepdaughter Patricia Garner, and six nieces, the daughters of Mary, Jesse and Louise. Those of us who loved him will miss his goodness in the world.

A graveside service will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Randolph Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Dr., Asheboro, NC 27203.