OBITUARY

Name:    Mary Evelyn (McCoy-Brown) McNew Cheek

From:  The Times-Leader, Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Date:  Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Mary E. (McNew) Cheek, 73, of Champaign, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2008, at Illini 

Heritage Nursing Home in Champaign.

Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Lux Memorial Chapel in Rantoul.  Graveside 

services will be at 11 a.m. today at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Dix.

Mary was born on Nov. 18, 1934, in Drivers, Ill., to John and Eula (Garrison) McCoy Brown. 

She was married to Milburn "Gene" McNew for 18 years, now deceased, and Russell Cheek for 

35 years. He survives.



She is survived by seven children, Kathy Trotter and husband Thomas of Champaign, Mary McNew

of Ivesdale, Dennis McNew and wife Toni of Tolono, Mark McNew of Tolono, Pam Brewer and 

husband Bill of Mahomet, Gene McNew and wife Theresa of Mahomet, and Eric McNew of 

Champaign; three stepchildren, Kim Cruce and husband Ken of Petersburg, Steve Cheek and wife 

Sandy of St. Joseph, and Shannon Cheek and spouse Kim of Mahomet; 21 grandchildren and two

great-grandchildren.

She was preceeded in death by a son, William McGinty; a stepson, Ronnie Cheek; and her parents.

Mary was a homemaker. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Bement, where she 

sang in the choir. She loved to cook and go camping. She volunteered for the Meals on Wheels

program in Bement and Monticello.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.