Grace Edith (Culling) Cheesewright

Grace Edith (Culling) Cheesewright

Jan. 9, 1916 — Dec. 10, 2007

Grace Edith (Culling) Cheesewright was born Jan. 9, 1916 in Chicago, Ill., the fourth child and only daughter of Adelbert and Lillian Culling. She passed away peacefully at Carla’s at Vista View in Montrose, Colo. on Dec. 10.

When Grace was two years old, the family moved to California where she later graduated from high school and attended Occidental College. She married Clifton Charles Cheesewright on May 13, 1939. When Cliff passed away in 2005, Grace and Cliff had been married almost 67 years. To this union were born four children: Gordon, Joy, Bonnie, and a second son, Bruce, who was stillborn.

Grace and Cliff’s 66-year marriage was an ongoing love story. The couple demonstrated faithfulness, commitment and unconditional love to all who knew them. A defining time in Grace’s life was during World War II when Cliff was stationed overseas in Burma for 2 1/2 years. Grace took care of things on the home front — knitting socks, mufflers and sweaters, baking cookies and bread to send overseas — keeping “home” tangible in the lives of active duty soldiers  and taking care of their small son, Gordon. Grace and Cliff’s letters from that time talk of home and future, plans and ideas, treasured memories. They’re often light of heart with Cliff’s puns and Grace’s kittenish sense of humor, teasing and tender.

Grace and Cliff moved to Montrose, Colo. in 1983. From the beginning they were loyal members of the Christian Science Society in Montrose. With their children scattered, the friends they made at their church became their extended family and they loved each person dearly.

Grace’s life was defined by love — love for her family and friends and love for God. She joyfully embraced her role as wife and mother. Taking care of her family was her priority. Grace had always been a “stay-at-home mom,” but when her children entered junior high, she decided to get a job. One day one of the girls came home from school upset and in need of motherly love and hugs, but Grace was at work. When Grace’s daughter told her, “I needed you and you weren’t home,” Grace quit her job the next day.

Grace had many talents and loved spending time cooking, knitting, china painting, sewing, singing and playing the piano. She loved to share what she made with others. The house often smelled of freshly baked bread or chocolate chip cookies, and when the kids would come home from school to the smell of their mom’s cooking, all was right with the world. For many years she baked at least one pie a week for Cliff, her pie lover. She had a gift for making each person feel her special love.

Grace taught her family to love and appreciate music, especially hymns and “show tunes” and she filled the house with song. She loved hosting get-togethers for family and friends. A favorite was her annual “Christmas Sing” when friends and family would gather to sing Christmas carols, eat and enjoy the true meaning of the holiday season. Grace loved people and she had a gift for making everyone feel welcome in their home.

Grace was known for her beautiful smile and her positive outlook on life. On the gloomiest, dreariest, cloudiest days, her comment would often be, “Look, it’s just another kind of pretty day!” To all who knew her, Grace taught by example how to live a life of love and joy.

We will always love you, Mom/Gram. We thank God for you and joyfully give you into His keeping. You are part of who we are and who we wish to become.

Gordon and Diane, Kyle, Neil, Scott, Anna and John Cheesewright; Joy and Don Styer; Bon and Don Vincent; Allison and Tony, Kylie and Nathaniel White; Breana and Jim Scorso.