Elinor Ruth Cheatham

She was born November 12, 1923, to Johnny Roland and Ora Hodge Launius in El Dorado. She was the second of five children and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1941. Elinor married George Dayton Cheatham in 1947 and they were married until the time of his death in 1990.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant daughter, Sharon Ruth Cheatham, brothers Wendell Launius, and James Launius, and a sister, Dorothy Birmingham.

During the early years while raising five children, she worked at Coley’s, McCrory’s, the Exchange Drug, Royal Crown Cola Bottling Company, and Minute Man. While her children were in school, she attended the newly built Oil Belt Vocational Tech and obtained a certificate in Business.

She worked many years at and retired from the First National Bank. Her dream was to go to college, but being a child of the Depression, there was never enough money. She took various college courses throughout her life, and even passed a Real Estate course. She had a deep curiosity about people, the world around her, and was a life-long learner.

Elinor was also an avid Wildcat fan and went over twenty years without missing a single El Dorado Wildcat football game--in rain, cold, or snow. She loved purple and was known at the bank for wearing purple every Friday.

Elinor was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award in 2000, and the Five Who Care award in 2002. She was a Past President and very active in the MCSA Ladies Auxiliary, the Interfaith Clinic and was a Volunteer Income Tax Aide, until her health started to fail. While in Timberlane, she was a past Timberlane Queen.

She was a member of Parkview Baptist Church since 1950, where she taught a ladies Sunday School class and was the Church Historian. She was extremely proud of her Church roots, and loved the Lord.

Elinor sang in the church choir, played hand bells and sang in the annual community living Christmas tree. She also participated in a correspondence ministry where she wrote letters every week to those in need of comfort and companionship.

She loved the history of El Dorado, and could tell you anything you needed to know about the town and its people, whether you wanted to hear it or not. She was very proud of her memory, and never forgot a name or face.

Elinor leaves behind five children: Sharolyn Givens (Robert), Norphlet; George Cheatham, Jr. (Judy), Pulaski, TN; David Cheatham (Eleanor), Atlanta, GA; Bob Cheatham (LeAnne), Newnan, GA; and Gary Cheatham, El Dorado. She has 12 grandchildren: Chris Thomas, El Dorado; Stacy Thomas Givens, State College, PA; Dayton Cheatham, Greensboro, NC; Sarah Hampton Cheatham, Silver Springs, MD; Emmie Cheatham, Vancouver, Canada; Catherine Cheatham, Atlanta, GA; Caroline Everett (John), Meridian, MS; Matthew Cheatham, Newnan, GA; Patricia Cheatham, Champaign, IL; John Cheatham, Ft. Worth, TX, Rebecca Launius-Brown, Bellingham, WA, Nick Cheatham, Oak Harbor, WA; 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, a brother Roland Launius of Little Rock, AR, but had a special place in her heart for her nephew Jim Thrash.

The family wishes to give a special thanks to the loving nurses and aides at Timberlane, especially LaTonya and Tressie.

Visitation will be held Monday evening 6-8 at Young’s Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Young’s Chapel with Rev. Pat Daughtery officiating. Interment will follow in Arlington Memorial Park under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made in Elinor’s name to UCAPS at 1000 Sunset Road, El Dorado, AR 71730, or to the MSCA Ladies Auxiliary, c/o Deanie Connor, 638 Agnes Road, El Dorado, AR 71730.

An online registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.