Thelma E. Cheatham

December 12, 1924 – May 13, 2011

Thelma was born on December 12, 1924 to Elwood and Edith Brouse. When telling others where, she would playfully say "under a rock" at Castle Rock on Glade Park. She attended school at Coates Creek School, built by her father on Glade Park. The Brouse family ran a sheep ranch. Thelma was proud that her father was the first to drive a car up the Old Serpent Trail road on the Colorado National Monument. Thelma married Casimir Gauthier in 1943. They had four children, Barbara, Diane, Sandy and Ronald. Her second marriage was to Denver Cheatham in 1965, he preceded her in death in 1986. They had one child, Lynn. Thelma was an avid hunter and loved fishing. She spent a lot of time with her family pursuing these passions. She was very patriotic and held the military in high regard. Thelma worked as a cook for School District 51 in Grand Junction and the Mesa County Sheriff's Department where she retired after 13 years. She lived on Orchard Mesa for 40 years and was recently a resident of the Oaks, an assisted living facility in Fruita, Colorado. The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to all the staff members at the Oaks and the volunteers, Doctors and Nurses at the Hospice Care Center. Thelma is preceded in death by her brothers James, Howard, Galen, and Duane and her sisters, Ruth and Babe. She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Barbara and Fred Talley, Diane and Gary Richardson, and Sandra and Harold Graves all of Grand Junction; Ronald and Pamela Gauthier of Hamilton, and Lynn and Brad Grose of Glade Park. Thelma is also survived by five step-children from her second marriage, Dan, Denny, Darlene, Janice, and Carol. Thelma was grandmother to 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren. Funeral service will be held at Martin Mortuary, Tuesday May 17th, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her name to the Coates Creek School historical fund, c/o Susan Roehm, P.O. Box 23101, Glade Park, Colorado 81523, The Oaks, 805 W Ottley Avenue, Fruita, Colorado 81521 or the Hospice Care Center, 3090B North 12th Street, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506.