Obituary of Sue Hurley Cheek

Sue Hurley Cheek passed peacefully through the veil early Friday morning, January 3, 2020.  She had recently been taken to a hospice in Pittsboro due to complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  She was 72 years old.

Sue was the only child of Ralph Gilmore and Theresa Carolyn Hurley Cheek, all of whom lived most of their lives within one or two counties of Chapel Hill.  Sue was born August 29, 1947, in Durham (there was no hospital in Chapel Hill at the time.)

Sue graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1965, where she was involved in sports and numerous activities.  She attended UNC and worked at Hanes Hall for a number of years doing records, registrations, and transcripts.  (She was approached on at least one occasion to improve a student’s grade, and correctly turned him down!)  Sue loved Carolina and has many fond memories, and collected memorabilia, including autographed pictures of players.

Sue loved beach music.  She danced the “shag,” and was president of the Shag Club of Chatham County.  She won, along with a friend, a “fan of the year” award for Carolina Beach Music in 2009.   She enjoyed going on beach music cruises with friends to various ports of call.

Sue, like Job, has been “patient in her afflictions.”  She was challenged through much of her life by cancers, and more recently, breathing difficulties.  Even will all of her health issues, she maintained a strength, resilience, and faith that should be a light to anyone who knew her.

Sue was familiar with doctors, technicians, nurses, and medical equipment in labs, hospitals, and at home.  She overcame the difficulties of disappointing medical reports, recurring malignancies, and doubtful outcomes.  Throughout the difficulties, the Lord, in His Infinite Goodness, sent special blessings to Sue we call, “Friends.”  They “bore one another’s burdens,” and as a result, grew to love one another, which helped her get through the challenges.  They became as one, and blessed each other individually and collectively.

Through her faith in God, and by enduring to the end, Sue will receive promises that will be fulfilled hereafter.  “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21).”

A funeral service was held at the Carrboro United Methodist Church, 200 Hillsborough Rd., Carrboro, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2020.  Interment followed at Westwood Cemetery.

Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is Assisting the family