George Cheney, 78

George was born in Logan, Utah, to Vara George and Afton Cheney, the second son and youngest of their five children. The family home was in Laketown, Utah, on the south shore of Bear Lake. From an early age, George began to grow his amazing, infectious personality, sense of humor and love for God, people and sports. When he wasn’t in school or working on his grandpa’s ranch, he was water skiing all summer and playing basketball all winter. Vara passed when George was only 9 years old. When he was 17, he and his mother moved to Portland, Ore., where he graduated from Park Rose HS with the Class of ’65. That fall, he went to Ambassador College in East Texas, where he met and fell in love with Brenda Morrison from South Georgia. They married June 9, 1970, the day after he received his degree in communications. Because George was a people magnet, many precious friendships that still remain intact were forged through their college years. 

George was a natural at sales and began his career back in his home state of Utah. From there, they returned to Texas until his work took the family to Colorado before landing in Coeur d’Alene on June 1, 1977. They embraced North Idaho and put down roots, enjoying the surrounding lakes, golf courses and ski hills while raising their daughters. George coached church youth basketball, taught his girls and many of their countless friends to golf and water ski on Lake Coeur d’Alene in the summers. George was among the first 100 people in the world during the ’60s to water ski barefoot. He delighted in proving to the kids he could still do it. 

He lived life vigorously all four seasons, so on winter weekends and holiday breaks from school, he filled the family conversion van with eager young snow skiers. Season passes to Silverhorn were a priority until the girls left the nest and Silver Mountain evolved. 

When George wasn't at home in a boat seat, golf cart or chair lift, he could be found equally content in a car or airplane seat! He loved to travel and be on the move constantly. His high aptitude for math and people skills led him into computer sales at the onset of that industry. He was on the leading edge of computerized finance and insurance systems for the automotive industry. He built relationships with auto dealers all across the country, genuinely loving them all and working enthusiastically to meet their needs for technology. By then, he had also embraced golf and it became a favorite passion. His clubs went wherever he went. Golf was a great fit with his various sales positions, which took him all over the U.S. and Canada. One of his goals was to find and play every golf course that exists! His motto: “Work while you play and play while you work.” He racked up nine (9) holes-in-one, with the last at Coeur d’Alene Public in July of ’23, after his Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD) diagnosis! 

It was a seemingly harmless fall years earlier that is suspected to have begun the slow but progressive invasion of that disease, which retired him prematurely and continued to incrementally rob his abilities to communicate as he had always done so brilliantly. His faith never wavered. George ran valiantly, took it all in stride and never complained once as he approached the end of his race. George is Home Free. His work is finished. His battles are won. He lived well. He loved well. He is with his Lord Jesus Christ. He was bought and paid for, now fully delivered from mortality to the Presence of his Savior. He passed peacefully from his earthly body and home on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. He was surrounded by his cherished family who faithfully walked this path with him as a unit. He is and will be missed by all whom he left behind, but we do not grieve as those who are without hope.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Brenda Cheney, their three daughters and sons-in-law: Melissa (Chris Skinner), Genca (David Moon) and Jana (Jim Kilgore); his grandchildren: Nate Sakwi (Annaliese), Hannah Sakwi, Kora Gould, Truitt Gould, Bella Skinner and Orin Gould; his first great-grandchild is due to arrive in December; his sisters: Carol Pope, Sylvia Cheney and Lee Cheney; his sisters-in-law Hazel Fleming, Mary Ann White and Jane Morrison; plus a huge host of favored nieces, nephews and cousins.

George was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, George Edwin and Mamie Morrison; his brother, Arthello Cheney; his brothers-in-law, Blaine Pope, Danny Morrison, George Morrison, Douglas Morrison, Bob Fleming and Ray Brown; and his sisters-in-law, Bonnie Cheney, Lorita Morrison and Emma Lee Morrison Brown. 

Brenda and family extend their sincere and heartfelt gratitude to everyone who loved George and supported them through this journey. Your prayers and countless acts of love continue to make an impact and mean more than words can express. Special mention goes to the Seekers Sunday School Class at Highlands Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., for years of faithful, fervent prayer covering, along with regular handwritten cards and letters of encouragement. Brenda and the family also wish to acknowledge and thank the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf staff and crews who watched out for George, treating him with such dignity while always making a way for him to enjoy the game as long as he possibly could. We love you; we thank you. Your kindnesses will not be forgotten. Dr. Susan Melchiore, MD, who clarified George’s FTD diagnosis and kindly guided us in understanding and navigating how to deal with this type of less-researched dementia. She is truly a gift to North Idaho, where there is limited availability and access to expertise in this area of health care. Thank you to Carlo Orozco, MSN, FNP-C, of Lifehouse Health Care, for being George’s final Primary Care Physician and for going the extra mile to treat his whole person despite the toll FTD took. Advanced Home Care & Hospice for their amazing help and attention throughout the last eight weeks of his physical life. They were meticulous in treating him with exceptional end-of-life care, while also addressing the family’s issues and questions. Bellevue Healthcare for all the speedy and deliveries/set-up of everything we needed. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene, for their gracious and professional guidance after his passing. 

A private viewing was held at Yates Funeral Home on Oct. 19. A Memorial/Celebration of Life for family and friends is planned for Saturday, Nov. 14, on what would have been George’s 79th birthday. Those who wish to attend but have not yet received details are encouraged to contact a family member.