Wayne (Tex) Cheatham, 88

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

Tex was born June 15, 1930, 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, Washington, 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 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, abd 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 first-born son, Wayne; and his son, Danny.

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

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

Please sign his online memorial at englishfuneralchapel.com.