Carl Ray Cheatham

Carl was born on August 2, 1931, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Walter Carl and Allie Cly Cheatham. One of five children and the only boy, Carl grew up alongside his four sisters, helping his parents on the family dairy farm in Oklahoma City. The family later moved to a large farm south of Chickasha, Oklahoma.

In the fall of 1945, the Cheatham family auctioned their farm equipment and livestock and moved to Abilene, Texas, so Carl and his sisters could attend Abilene Christian College. Carl attended Abilene Christian School, graduating in 1949. Following graduation, he joined the United States Navy and served for four years. His service took him across the central Pacific aboard LSM and LST vessels on supply runs to the islands from Hawaii westward to Japan.

After his discharge from the Navy, Carl returned to Abilene and enrolled at Abilene Christian College. There, he met the widowed Joyce Holley Fitzgerald and her young son, Mac Fitzgerald. Carl and Joyce married in 1959, and within the next few years their family grew with the addition of daughter Holley Caroline and twin sons Ray and Jay.

Carl earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and continued his education in the field that would become his life’s work, earning graduate degrees in education and administration along with certification in counseling. He devoted 30 years to the Abilene Independent School District, serving as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and principal, including service at Franklin and Madison Junior High Schools.

Following his retirement from AISD, Carl returned to his alma mater, Abilene Christian School, where he served as elementary principal for ten years. His career in education touched the lives of countless students, teachers and families throughout the Abilene community.

Retirement from education did not mean retirement from work. Carl remained active on his nine acres south of Clyde, where he built a barn, shop, outbuildings and even a three-story tree house. He loved construction and working outdoors and continued cutting fire wood and mowing the fields well past his 94th birthday. He especially treasured time spent with his family.

Carl’s faith in Jesus was the foundation of his life. He was a member of Highland Church of Christ which his family joined upon arrival to Abilene in 1945. He was a true patriarch of the Cheatham family and quietly modeled for generations what it meant to live a Godly life. Carl was soft-spoken and cheerful, with a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor. He lived his life bringing no burdens from yesterday and borrowing no trouble from tomorrow.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Holley Caroline Cheatham; his parents, Walter Carl and Allie Cheatham; his sisters Lee Ora Johnson, Louise Vaughan and Alice Sheppard; and brothers-in-law Howard Johnson, Chuck Vaughan, Jimmy Sheppard and Dale Hulett.

Left to cherish Carl’s memory are his beloved wife of 67 years, Joyce; his sister, Ann Hulett of Waco; and his sons and daughters-in-law, Mac Fitzgerald (Irene) of Bixby, Oklahoma, Ray Cheatham (Jamie) of Abilene, and Jay Cheatham (Mindy) of Tuscola.

Carl is also survived by six grandchildren: Stephanie Fitzgerald, Austin Cheatham (Megan), Ashton Colon (Alex), Caleb Cheatham (Jenna), Christian Cheatham, and Savannah Cheatham; four great-grandchildren, with two more on the way; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home from 5:30-7:30 on Friday, September 18th. A family graveside service will be held at Elmwood Memorial Gardens on Saturday the 19th at noon.

Carl’s life was perhaps best summarized by the words of II Timothy 4:7–8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

He will be greatly missed, but the faith he lived, the family he loved and the lives he influenced will carry his legacy forward for generations.