Eva Mae Bentley Cheek

Obituary: Eva Mae Bentley Cheek Eva Mae Bentley Cheek was born on November 2, 1916 in York, SC. On Sunday morning, January 26, 2014, the angels came and carried her home. Eva was the daughter of Frank and Florence Snipes Bentley. They had three daughters: Cleo (Holder), Eva, and Lucille (Walter). Their mother worked at Cannon Mills, and their grandmother, Ellen Parker, helped to raise them. Eva met Marshall Luther Cheek at a church picnic and they were married soon after in 1936. The family, with their two sons, Donald and Maxie, were members of First Baptist Church in Kannapolis. Eva and Marshall especially enjoyed the couples' class, which Marshall later taught. Both Eva and Marshall were second generation mill workers, and they both retired from Cannon Mills after 30 and 40 years of service respectively. Marshall became a Mason and Eva joined the Eastern Star. Their home was a family gathering place, as was the place that Marshall built at the Catawba River, a favorite place of extended family and friends. Eva and Marshall loved to travel, and they visited Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe, usually with a church group or family. They especially enjoyed Las Vegas and New Orleans, which they visited several times. Eva had to drop out of school to work in the mill, but she loved to read and she completed her Adult High School Diploma at Rowan Cabarrus Community College when she was in her fifties. She also loved her flowers, especially her tuberoses, which they sold tons of to a local florist and gave many away. She worked hard in the garden and canned or froze or shared the produce. Her favorite dishes were the brownies, graham cracker cakes, pecan pies, and chocolate peanut butter balls that she made especially for the children. Eva's gift was in trying to make other people happy, something that she did all of her life. Her smile was radiant and it remained so until the end, even after she lost her teeth. Family was a sacred word to her, and she created a large one from her friends at the mill and church, to those who served her so faithfully through her 16 years in assisted living. She smiled and sang on her journey in and out of three facilities: the Pines in Davidson, Best of Care in Kannapolis, and Concord First Assembly. She loved her caretakers and continually thanked them for everything they did for her, and they loved her back. Eva was predeceased by her parents and husband and her sister Cleo. She is survived by her sister Lucille Walter of Wilkesboro, her sons Donald (Sarah) of Davidson and Max (Rita) of Kannapolis, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a half-sister, Betty Bentley of First Assembly and her daughter Robyn Arrington of Concord, a host of nieces and nephews, and friends, especially her First Assembly family, and her personal angel Brenda Cook. A memorial service for Eva Cheek will take place in the chapel at Whitley's Funeral Home in Kannapolis on Friday at 2 pm with family visitation at 1 pm. The Rev. Brad Hargett of Concord First Assembly, will conduct the service. Interment will be at Carolina Memorial Park. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be sent to Concord First Assembly or to a Hospice of your choice.
Visitation: 1:00 to 2:00 PM Friday January 31, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 2:00 PM Friday January 31, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park