June passed away on August 18, 2024 in Pana, Illinois at the age of 103 of natural causes from aging. June was born in Newburg, Missouri, daughter of James and Eva Clark on January 12, 1921. Her father was a businessman and entrepreneur who moved to Pana IL in 1930 to open the First National Bank of Pana, and eventually became its President. June attended schools in Pana and graduated from Pana High School in 1939. In 1938 she was crowned Pana’s Rose Queen and got to present a bouquet of flowers to Pepper Martin at a St. Louis Cardinals’ game. She then Pana for Jacksonville IL and graduated from MacMurray College in 1943. While at MacMurray she was involved in many clubs, including Phi Nu Society, choir, thespians, class officer; and athletics including field hockey, golf, softball, and basketball.
After college, June worked with her father in the Pana First National Bank until she was swept off her feet by Ensign Richard Cheney who was home on leave from the US Navy and they married in 1944. June and Richard lived from East to West Coast during his time in the Navy-in California, Hawaii, Washington State, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. While very busy raising her three children, she also was quite involved in Officer Club wives’ meetings, Eastern Star, bowling and golf leagues, Anzarettes, and bridge clubs. Upon LCDR Richard’s retirement from the Navy, they returned to Taylorville, and she worked with Richard running the Dairy Queen, assisting in the Christian County Clerk’s office, and serving as a medical records clerk at Taylorville Memorial Hospital. She is well known in Taylorville and Pana as a competitive golfer winning the Championship Flight in Taylorville’s City golf tournament for three consecutive years 1979-81; bowling at Taylorville Bowl; and playing many hands of Bridge with friends and at the Taylorville senior center. Throughout the 1980s, she entertained many while tap dancing in Charlie’s Angels. She was a die-hard fan of the St. Louis Cardinals (no Cubs thank you) and UI football/basketball.
She was a lover of nature and grew some great tomatoes and flowers in her garden. She traveled yearly to visit her children in New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. While traveling with Richard, she would co-pilot their Cessna aircraft on trips to Florida and other points south and driving with her women’s group to play golf in Biloxi, Missouri. She was very active in the Taylorville United Methodist Church, serving on many committees and attending weekly services. June was a major donor for the June Clark Cheney dog park on Hiway 51 south in Pana--please visit any time. On January 10, 2021 upon turning 100, she was interviewed and had an article reviewing her life in the Taylorville Breeze Courier.
June’s husband Richard preceded her in death in 1985 as did her son James in 2019 and her grandson Andrew in 2023. She is survived by her daughter Sandi Cheney of Prescott, Arizona, son Douglas Cheney/wife Elayne Puzan from Eugene, Oregon and daughter-in-n law Rebecca Kroll in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Her sisters Sue Amling and JoAnn Siegert of Pana Illinois preceded her in death. She has a large extended family of Cheneys, Amlings, Siegerts, Jones, and McClungs living in Pana, Peoria, Arlington Heights, Illinois, as well as Arizona and Oregon.
June will be buried alongside her husband Richard at Camp Butler National Cemetery near Springfield, Illinois. A memorial service will be held at 11:00a.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church in Taylorville with Pastor Brennan Hurley officiating. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in her name to the First United Methodist Church in Taylorville.
Arrangements are with McClure Funeral Home, Taylorville IL. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.mcclurefuneralhome.com
