Alpha Joseph Cheney

Alpha Joseph Cheney passed away peacefully, with his loving family at his side, on October 31, 2014, in Glendale, AZ. Joe was born June 21, 1929, in Ada, Ohio to Eunice (Long) and G. Owen Cheney. He graduated from Fremont High School and attended the Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College in Michigan. He was a professional in church planning and commercial real estate (farms, ranches and mines) for over 45 years. He and his adored Sweetheart, Donna (Murphy), had made their home in the Valley of the Sun for the past 37 years including 15 years in Sun City. He loved fly fishing, the Arizona desert, and was a serious collector of rocks and railroad spikes. He was known for his cowboy hats, boots, belt buckles, western shirts and bolo ties.

Joe was well-known for his sense of humor and storytelling; his frequent and creative use of the word ‘obstreperous’; charcoal barbecuing with highlights of lighter fluid flavoring; his delicious pizza and peanut brittle (they really were yummy!!); and as a collector of many quail figurines that he claimed were for Donna, but we all knew were really for himself. Joe was known to remark that he is related to Vice President Dick Cheney (for years we shook our heads and winked when he said this, but it turns out he was right – we’re sorry that we doubted you, Dad); and insisting that he is Irish (we’re still suspicious of that one).

He was a strong supporter of the Professional Athletes Outreach (PAO); did mission work in the Midwest with the American Sunday School Union; supported missions around the world; traveled hundreds of thousands of miles between the coasts to help churches plan their facilities and construction; and drove the highways and back roads of Arizona and the desert he loved. More than anything, though, Joe was known for his love of and devotion to God and his Savior Jesus Christ; and for his abiding and endless love of Donna.

Joe leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Donna; son Douglas (Sharon) Cheney; daughter Cheryl (Larry) Newcomer; grandchildren Sara (Peter) O’Neill, Emily (Jason) Hipp, Beth (Brian) Elliott, Julie Marble, Lori (Kevin) Mayne and Kristen (Jason) Larson; great grandchildren Parker, Lillian, Alicia (Nick), Joseph (Elise), Tyler, Katelyn, Rebecca, Timothy, Stephen, Emily, Jayla, Melody and Ryan; great-great grandchildren Analeigh, Skylar and Atrayu; sisters Phyllis and Theora; brothers Max, Harry and Jerry. He was predeceased by his son, Larry; by sisters Mary Barbara and Virginia, and by brothers Charles, Clyde and Dallas.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 4, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Advantage Golden Door Chapel, 11211 W Michigan Ave., Youngtown, AZ. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at Grace Bible Church, 19280 N 99th Ave, Sun City, AZ 85373 (623-972-6414). Memorials in Joe’s memory may be made to the Grace Bible Church Missions Fund.

143 Forever.