Mary Agnes Cheatham

Mary Agnes Cheatham, a resident of Town Center Village, Happy Valley, for the past 16 years; died March 13, 2016. Born August 26, 1921 to Agnes and Victor Swanson in Champaign, Illinois. She grew up on Maple Grove Farm near Ludlow, Illinois and attended the first eight grades at Maple Grove School-a one room country school. Mary attended High School at Ludlow and Paxton, graduating from Paxton in 1939. During World War II, she worked as a storekeeper at Chanute Army Air Base in Rantoul, Illinois. She studied nursing, graduating from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Nursing School in Kirksville, Missouri in 1948 and worked there in surgery and general floor duty.

In 1951 she came to Portland, Oregon and married Dr. Riley F. Cheatham. The following year she began a working partnership with her husband and they continued as a doctor and nurse team until they retired.

Mary has three brothers: Robert B. Swanson of Morro Bay, California, Charles B. Swanson (deceased) of Ludlow, Illinois and Lee Victor Swanson (deceased). Also, a sister Alice May Swanson of Rantoul, Illinois. Mary was a member of the Kern Park Christian Church and for many years served on the Education and Worship Commissions. She taught second grade Sunday School Class. She was a member of Gideon’s Auxiliary and served as a member of the Social Camp Auxiliary Executive Committee. Mary was a member of the Portland Christian Business and Professional Women’s Organization and served on the Executive Committee. Burial will take place at Willamette National Cemetery, privately.