Leonard Cheney Jr.

Memorial services for Leonard E. Cheney, Jr. will be Saturday, April 23, 2016 at First United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm. There will be a reception after the memorial service where the family would like to greet friends. Private interment for the family will be in the columbarium of FUMC.

Leonard E. Cheney Jr. was born July 18, 1933 in South Bend, Indiana to Leonard E. Cheney Sr. and Gernetta (Foutch) Cheney. He died peacefully at home with his family on April 12, 2016. When he was four years old, his family moved to DeKalb, Illinois where his father's family was located and where his father established a music store. He attended elementary school, junior high and two years of high school in DeKalb. In 1949 his family moved to Roswell, New Mexico because of his mother's health and Len graduated in 1951 from Roswell High School, the building that was renamed Yucca Recreation Center.

Len attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales for two and a half years, where he was an active member of the ENMU Marching Band and Kappa Kappa Psi, Honorary Band Fraternity.

While in Portales, he met Bettie Lou Beverly from Lovington, NM and they were married on June 26, 1954. He left college to go back to Roswell to work with his Dad in the family business, Roswell Printing Co., buying out Len Sr. when he retired. Their son Larry worked with him for over 20 years and now the business is owned by their other son J.P., making it a third generation local company.

Len and Bettie Lou have three children, Sue Moran, J.P. Cheney (Bianca), and Larry (Deanna), along with eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Len is also survived by his sister-in-law, Vivian Cheney; sisters-in-law Joyce Kiess and Martha Rushing (Roy); brother-in-law Nathan Evans (Martha); his wife's uncle Walter Beverly of Lovington; and nieces, nephews, and three cousins. He is predeceased by his grandparents; parents; brother Ken; and his wife's parents.

Len's great love for family and his desire to have a great place to live was the reason he was so active in the community by being part of many civic organizations during the last 60 years. Len had many friends and loved being around people. He joined the Optimist Club in 1954 and was Lieutenant Governor of Optimist International in 1967-1968. Len was a member of the Roswell Jaycees from 1954 to 1969 and was voted outstanding club president in New Mexico. He spent a short time on the Board of Directors for Main Street Roswell. Len joined the Roswell Rotary Club in 1973 and worked with the high school Youth Exchange program locally and district-wide for 21 years. He was honored by the Roswell Rotary Club with a Paul Harris Fellow in 1993.

Len was the last surviving charter member of Pecos Valley Society of Model Trainmen and spent many hours working on the train layout at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. He was also chair or co-chair of the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Parade for many years and trained his successor, Sally Byrnes. During the last 15 years, he was a member and great supporter of the Community Band of Roswell. Len played the bass drum and loved marching music. He was also a participant in the ENMU-Portales Alumni Band which has met to rehearse and play a concert every other year since 1992.

Len & Bettie Lou were lifelong Methodists, attending First United Methodist Church since 1989 and were very active in the chancel choir and Silver Chords. They were licensed foster parents in the early 1980s and also hosted over 20 youth exchange students and NMMI Ambassador Cadets over the next 20 years.

Floral tributes will be welcomed by the family as well as gifts to Len's favorite charities: the Music Department of First United Methodist Church; Cowboy Bell Scholarship; the Joy Center; and the ENMU Alumni Band Scholarship.

The Cheney family would like to thank all of the health care professionals who have helped Len during the past few years of his disability as they have been a blessing to all of us.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (RSV)

Service

First United Methodist Church
200 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Roswell, NM  88201
Saturday, April 23, 2016
2:00 pm

Cemetery

First United Methodist Columbarium
200 N. Pennsylvaina
Roswell, NM  88201

Memorial Contributions

First United Methodist Church Cowboy Bell Fund
200 N. Pennsylvannia
Roswell, NM  88201

Joy Center
1822 N. Montana
Roswell, NM  88201

ENMU Alumni Band Scholarship
1500 S. Ave K
Portales, NM  88130