L. Russell Cheek's Obituary
L. Russell Cheek died January 17, 2006.
Russell was born in Dover, Oklahoma on February 21, 1919 to Ray and Lenora Cheek Burns. The family moved to Eastern Oregon to homestead near Burns, later moving to Medford and in 1930 to Chapman. Russell graduated from Scappoose High School in 1939 and shortly after moved back to Oklahoma near Kingfisher to work for the local newspaper. As war rumours continued, Russell returned to Oregon and joined the National Guard as clerk for Company K 41st Division. While serving with the Guard he worked for the St. Helens Sentinel-Mist, now known as the Chronicle. When WWII came, the Guard was mobilized and Russell became a Chaplain's Clerk at General MacArthur's Pacific Headquarters. He served in New Guinea, the Phillipines, and Australia. After receiving the American Defense Service Medal and Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal and Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Phillipines Liberation Ribbon with on Bronze Star, and seven overseas service bars, Russell was discharged in 1945 as a Cheif Warrant Officer.
While serving in the military in Australia, Russell met and married the love of his life, Lily. Russell and Lily whom he called Johnnie were married fify years before she passed away in 1995. Russell obtained dual citizenship, and he and Johnnie moved between Australia and America several times. They finally settled in Australia where they lived for the thirty years prior to Johnnie's death. In 1988, Russell decided to return to St. Helens to be near family. He had no children of his own but, loved the numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Russell was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of St. Helens. He is survived by his sister, Alice Cave of St. Helens and his brother Dale Cheek of Vancouver, Washington. His brother Alvin Cheek preceeded him in death. For the last few years of his life, Russell's primary caregiver was Sherran Wagner who won the hearts of all his family for the peaceful care she provided.
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