Obituary of John C. Cheney

John C. Cheney, 90, of Lakeview Farms, Route 430, in Bemus Point, passed away Thursday evening, July 19, 2018 at Heritage Green Rehab & Skilled Nursing surrounded by his family.

He was born October 21, 1927 in Bemus Point, a son of the late Asa Burton and Mary Jane Hares Cheney, and as a 1946 graduate of the former Bemus Point Central School.

John was a well-known dairy farmer in Bemus Point for many years. With his interest in farming, he had earlier been active in the Farm Bureau and was a member of the Dairyman's League, County Life Club, 4H and the Future Farmers of America. He had also served as Chautauqua County Parks Commissioner and was a 70 year member of the Ross Grange. In much earlier years, he had a horse-drawn sidewalk plow route in Jamestown.

He was a life member of the Fluvanna Fire Department and belonged to the Bemus Point Historical Society and Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Assoc. He also attended Bemus Point United Methodist Church.

John previously held the position of Director of Vessels for the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry and was very involved in the construction and operation of the Sea Lion Ship, the timbers of which came from John's property.

Additionally, John enjoyed Camp Chautauqua - care & maintenance projects, the petting zoo, attending The Chapel in the Woods at Camp during the summer, as well as his friendship with the late Roger Anderson and family.

His family will remember John's enjoyment of farming, gardening, square dancing, horses and hunting with his children and grandchildren; also water skiing, roller skating, playing Jamestown hockey in his early years and the dairy products, maple syrup and potatoes from his farm.

He will always be remembered for his constant smile, unending jokes and his ability for smelling a fresh pie a mile away.

Surviving is his wife of 62 years, Betty Lou Cheney; daughters, Suzanne (David) Knight of Creswell, OR and Martha (Larry) Anderson of Bemus Point; sons, Jim (Jody) Cheney of Bemus Point and Jay (Kirsten) Cheney of North Bend, WA; seven grandchildren: Daryl and Eric Anderson, Jenna, Becca and Laura Knight, and John and Asa Cheney; and three great-grandchildren, Addi, Gavin and Calvin Rathjen.

Also surviving are three sisters, Anabel Weise of Mayville, NY, Donna (Del) Stage of Dewittville, NY and Edith (Bob) Johnson of Bemus Point.

A memorial service will be held July 31, 2018 at 4 p.m. in the Lind Funeral Home. Pastor Andy Frudd of the Lakeview Community Church will officiate. Burial will be in Bemus Point Cemetery at a future date.

Friends will be received for three hours prior to the service in the funeral home, from 1 to 4 p.m. on July 31st.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry, P.O. Box 339, Bemus Point, NY 14712; Fluvanna Volunteer Fire Dept., 3536 Fluvanna Ave. Ext., Jamestown, NY 14701; Bemus Point United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 99, Bemus Point, NY 14712; or Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.