Sarah "Sally" Cheever

Sarah 'Sally' Cheever, an energetic, fun-loving and always entertaining character with a heart the size of Texas, died Sunday, April 18th, surrounded by her six children and husband, Charles E. Cheever Jr. Known for her belief that Vitamin C, Cold-Eeze, gallons of water, a fast-paced walk and lots of prayer could cure any ailment, Sally, 75, never spent a night in a hospital (except to deliver her children), until she was stricken by a brain aneurysm in her sleep after spending a joyous Easter Sunday with her family. She never regained consciousness. The Cheever family would like to thank Dr. Tom Kingman and Dr. Herberto Garza for their loving care, as well as the staff at Methodist Hospital and Northeast Baptist Hospital. She is survived by her best friend and husband of more than 51 years, Charlie; her children, Suzanne Goudge and son-in law, James Goudge; daughter, CeCe Cheever and her friend, Tim McHugh; son, Christopher Cheever, all of San Antonio; Jean Cheever of New York City, Joan Cheever and son-in-law, Dennis Quinn of Howth, Ireland; and Charlie Cheever III and daughter-in-law, Regina, of Norwalk, Conn.; her grandchildren, Sara, Carrie, Cy and Kate Goudge; Daley and Austin Quinn, and Helen and Hope Cheever. She leaves behind her much loved sister and brother, Irene Prescott of San Antonio, and Hance McKinney, Jr. and sister-in-law, Joanne of Fredericksburg; her sister-in-law, Jane Cheever Powell and brother-in-law, Tom Powell of San Antonio, and many nieces and nephews. Sarah 'Sally' Hunter McKinney, the daughter of Loretta McMahon McKinney and Hance W. McKinney, was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Her brother, James, and parents, preceded her in death. Sally graduated from high school at Loretta Academy in El Paso and attended the University of Texas at El Paso before following her sister to the University of California at Berkley where she graduated with a business degree. Carefree and outgoing, Sally met a dashing Air Force pilot on a blind date in 1950 while he was stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo. Two years later, Sally, an elementary school teacher, and Charlie were married. With four daughters, Sally became involved with the Girl Scouts in 1963 as a troop leader for many years even after her own daughters graduated. She was enthusiastically committed to scouting throughout her entire life. In 1994 the San Antonio Area Girl Scouts awarded Sally the Trefoil Award, the Girl Scout's highest honor given to an outstanding woman in her community who serves as a great role model for girls and young women. Sally combined her love of scouting with her love of travel and took several scout troops to Girl Scout camps in Mexico, Switzerland and England. In recognition of her great love of the Girl Scouts and camping, several years ago her family established the Sally Cheever Campership Fund to enable any girl the opportunity to experience Girl Scout camp. In 1998, Sally was named the San Antonio Junior League's Volunteer Extraordinaire, in recognition of her life long service to her community; the Junior League Rummage Sale was an annual event she never missed. She was also a long-time member and officer of the San Antonio Bar Auxiliary and a member of the Military Civilian Club. Deeply devout, Sally was a regular at daily Mass, served as a Eucharistic Minister and was a long-time volunteer at St. Peter's Prince of the Apostle's School and Church. She was active in St. Monica's Guild and looked forward to meeting with her long-time bible study group every Friday morning. She was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. A proud Texan and direct descendant of Abijha Dickson, who was killed at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, Sally was an active member and former president of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She was a volunteer at the Alamo and served on the Alamo Committee. She looked forward to the annual pilgrimage to the Alamo at the beginning of Fiesta week and recently attended and thoroughly enjoyed the world premiere of the film, 'The Alamo.' Along with her sister, sister-in-law, three daughters and two granddaughters, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and she recently established a Tri-Delt scholarship in the name of the McKinney sisters. She enjoyed nothing more than bargaining with customers at C&G Estate Sales, alongside her business partner, Sissy Gainey. Sally was a committed recycler before it became fashionable and never passed an empty aluminum can on the street without picking it up. She lived by the motto which hangs on a sign prominently displayed in her kitchen, 'Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!' Family and friends agree it will be very hard to 'do without' Sally Cheever. ROSARY TUESDAY 7:00 P.M. THE CHAPEL OF THE INCARNATE WORD MEMORIAL MASS WEDNESDAY 12 NOON ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC CHURCH 3907 HARRY WURZBACH ROAD The Rev. David Garcia and the Rev. Msgr. Lawrence Steubben, CoCelebrants. In lieu of flowers, Sally and the Cheever family would be most honored by a donation in her name to the Sally Cheever Campership Fund, Girl Scouts of the San Antonio Area, P.O. Box 790339, San Antonio, Texas 78279 or a donation to the charity of choice. Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary.