Mary Ellen Cheney

Mary Ellen Cheney February 22, 1934-July 29, 2024.

Mary Ellen Cheney of Riverton UT, passed away at the age of 90 after a brief but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Mary was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and loved to go to the temple. She took out her endowment on October 23, 1986. She served in numerous church callings of which Primary teacher and Relief Society teacher were her favorites.

Mary loved scrapbooking, taking pictures, collecting knick knacks, reading, sewing, going for walks, and gardening. She loved to go for drives up the canyon and having picnics by the river. She loved her trips to Disneyland.

Mary was a Home Health Aide at Community Nursing for nine years and a CNA in the Maternity Unit at the University Hospital for six years. 

After her retirement, Mary enjoyed volunteering at Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley for many years where she helped countless people coming into the hospital with her kindness and support along with serving as Historian on the Volunteer Board.

She married Ray Dennies and had two sons, Jerry and Steve. She later divorced and married Jean Barcalow with whom she had a daughter Laurie. After divorcing Jean, she married Kenny Howard. Their marriage was abruptly cut short by his sudden death. She later married Richard Cheney and had two daughters, Pamela who was a stillborn and Tammy.

She is preceded in death by her parents Soren and Ester Vatsend, her husband Kenny, her sisters Elaine and Janet, her brothers Robert and James, her son Steve, her still born daughter Pamela and her fur babies Prince, Taffy, Cuddles, Missy and Mitzie.

She is survived by her children Jerry, Laurie (Les), Tammy (William), grandchildren Angela, Cody, Brooke, Sabrina (Jared), Les Jr (Melanie), Chris, Tom, Emily and numerous great grandchildren. 

Mary was known for her loving and compassionate service to family, friends and neighbors. She was always thinking of others and doing what she could to brighten their day. She was as close to perfection as one can get.

Funeral services will be on August 5, 2024, at 2:00 with a viewing prior to that from 12:00-2:00 at Redwood Memorial on 6500 S Redwood Road in West Jordan. Internment will follow at 3:00 at the same location.