Barbara “Pauline” Cheney, 88, died peacefully at her home Dec. 7, 2022, in Hill City, Kansas. She was born on her family farm near Blackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma. Pauline was the sixth child of Vernon Lee and Myrtle Orene (Curtis) Rowe. She attended grade school in rural Kay County, and graduated in 1952 from Blackwell High School. In her youth, she was a Blackwell Church of God member and loved to sing gospel in harmony with her sisters. She worked as copy editor for the local newspaper, and everyone who knew Pauline, knew her spelling and handwriting was impeccable. A young man waited outside of her church to ask Pauline’s dad for permission to date her, and a love story that lasted decades began. She married Kenneth Edwin Cheney October 9, 1952, in Blackwell, Oklahoma. To this union, three children were born: Kenneth Greg, Kirk Alan, and Kim Rene’.
The Army took Kenneth and Pauline to El Paso, Texas, and Boston, Massachusetts. Pauline stayed in Oklahoma with their firstborn son, while Kenneth finished his tour in Alaska. Afterwards, the couple lived in southeastern Kansas until the oilfield transferred them to Hill City in 1961, where Pauline spent the majority of her remaining life (with the exception of a few years in Great Bend) as a homemaker and much more. She was office manager and partner in Cheney Testing Company for 15 years, then supported her husband in their farm and cattle business. After Kenneth passed, she managed books and shared in the farm operation with her son.
Many local kids grew up calling Pauline “Grandma Cheney”; she and Kenneth opened up their home, swimming pool, and travels to them. The couple loved to host friends and family. Friday nights out with friends, followed by cards, was rarely missed. Family summers were spent at local lakes. They took trips to Ozark cabins with friends and family, where Pauline loved to attend her favorite Branson shows. She enjoyed year round trips to the Lake Dillon area. On vacation, Pauline could be found relaxing by Rocky Mountain lakes and streams, or holding on for dear life as Kenneth “explored” the Rockies in their jeep! Pauline seldom missed morning coffee at the cafe with her friends. She was an avid reader, who often read one book per day. She embroidered, and discovered the love of quilting in her middle years. She was an amazing cook - her fried chicken and her Hershey’s chocolate cake were among everyone’s favorites. She loved hosting holidays, and even in her later years, family gathered at “Grandma’s." Great-Grandma always had a special cookie stash by her chair for little ones visiting and she hardly ever missed Wheel of Fortune. Pauline loved to decorate her home for the holidays which brought much joy to her family. Pauline dearly loved her children, grandchildren and great -grandchildren. She enjoyed attending grand’s and great’s birthdays and events, and when she couldn’t be with family, she cherished viewing their online photos over and over again.
Pauline is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth, her brother George Rowe, and sisters Ollie Crawford, Laverne Wilson, Dorothy Fauchier and Francis Wilson. Pauline leaves behind these to grieve her passing: sons Greg (Dana) Cheney of Lenexa, Kansas, and Kirk Cheney (Brenda Dinkel) of Bogue, and daughter Kim (Wayne) Pfeifer of Hill City; grandchildren Jason (Mandy) Cheney, Valley Center; Kendra (Wiley) McBride and children McKena, Kaden and Kamden of Hays; Aaron (Julia) Cheney and daughters Nichole and Melissa of Olathe; Casey (Jamie) Quint and sons Devin and Finley of Weldona, Colo.; Erica (Ian) Kohart and son Sam of Tomball, Texas; Zachary Cheney of Kansas City, Mo. and his daughter Leia of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Collin Pfeifer and Trista Wysong and their son Kenneth of Hill City; sister-in-law Norma Peres, Braman, Okla., numerous nieces and nephews, and special caregivers Carla Burch and Miranda Pimlott.
Stinemetz Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments.