No headline

Wayne ‘Tex’ Cheatham

June 15, 1930 – Oct. 24, 2018

On Thursday morning, Oct. 24, 2018, Wayne “Tex” Cheatham passed away from heart failure. He was 88 years old.

Tex was born in Troup, Texas, and was one of eight children by Archie Newton and Minnie Leona (Wells) Cheatham. His mother tragically passed away while Tex was just 8 years old in 1938. Eventually, he and his siblings were sent to the Corsicana State Orphan’s Home. Tex continually ran away until being left alone at age 12 to live and work with his father.

When he was 18, Tex joined the Army Signal Corps, where he fearlessly climbed communication towers that served for the command and control of the combined Armed Forces for four years. He served overseas in Guam and the Philippines.

While stationed in Moses Lake, Wash., Tex met and married Mary Jane Worley at the age of 27. They settled in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, for many years before moving the family to Comanche, Texas, after the passing of his eldest son, Wayne, in 1979.

A few years later the family moved to Bay City on the Texas coast, where Tex began a new love, fishing for 30- to 60-pound black drum.

Somewhere around 1989, Tex moved his family back to Post Falls, Idaho, where Tex spent time salmon fishing on the Columbia River and trout fishing in Lake Coeur d’Alene. He enjoyed huckleberry picking and countless hours of woodworking — building custom tables and clocks.

Tex and Mary Jane remained married for 51 years until her death in 2008 from cancer.

Tex loved a good garage sale and enjoyed searching for “garage sale goodies.” He was quick with his wit and never walked into a business or restaurant without some funny, off-the-cuff comment. He loved children and rarely had empty arms when an infant was nearby.

Tex and Mary had six children, Wayne Jr., Archie, Jerry, Vicky, Danny and John, and one grandchild, Alexander (Wayne) Cheatham.

Tex was predeceased by both parents; his wife, Mary; his siblings, Andy, Lloyd, Ray, Emma and Floyd; his firstborn son, Wayne; and son, Danny.

Tex is survived by his sons, Archie of Austin, Texas; Jerry of Rathdrum, Idaho, and John of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Vicky Larson of Post Falls, Idaho; grandson, Alex Cheatham of Post Falls and his siblings, Marietta McElroy of San Diego, Calif., and Norma Jean Manning of Birmingham, Ala.

Services will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Post Falls, Idaho, at English Funeral Home, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, ID 83854.

Please sign his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.