James William Cheatham

Aurora, SD

1934, 1794, Rockerville, F-10,

James Cheatham, who was an enrollee in Company 1794, Camp Rockerville from July 1934 to June 1935, says that it was moved to Moon, a "ghost town" near the Wyoming border the spring of 1935.

James W. Cheatham was born on October 19, 1914 in Aurora, South Dakota the son of Glen and Minnie (Shafer) Cheatham. On Wednesday, February 4, 2004 he embarked on his final journey to join Our Father in Heaven and his loving wife of 58 years, Alta. Jim was 89 years of age.

Jim grew up in and attended the Aurora High School, and spent nearly his entire life there. He was united in marriage to Alta Bulen on June 2, 1941 in Flandreau, SD. They lived and farmed south of Aurora until 1958 when he became manager of the Aurora Liquor Store. From 1961 to 1963, he worked with the ASC grain bin storage facility in Brookings. He became postmaster of Aurora, which he served as until his retirement in 1979. Alta died on May 17, 1999. Jim moved to Arizona in September of 2003 to be near his family. We loved every minute he spent with us.

He enjoyed going to dances with Alta, working in his flower garden and fishing. He loved to tell stories and reminisce about their many friends, first in Aurora and later about his friends from Greenleaf Assisted Living Center in Brookings. His final home was at Sunset Gardens Assisted Living Center in Mesa, Arizona, where we had the opportunity to visit and talk and laugh and remember with him every day. Dad, you will be so missed.

Jim is survived by two sons Robert Cheatham (Kathy) of Mesa, AZ, David Cheatham (Erma Walker) of Phoenix, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, four brothers and two sisters.

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