Obituary: Daniel Franklin Cheatham, 93, Mount Washington
Daniel Franklin Cheatham, 93, of Mount Washington, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Nazareth Rehabilitation in Louisville after a 10-day illness. He was a devoted husband and father.
He was born Aug. 8, 1931, in Springfield. He was the eighth of 12 children in an area commonly called “Hog Run.” A country boy at heart, he grew up on a farm and loved tractors, motorcycles and cars. He adapted easily to the big city, coming to Louisville to work as a licensed commercial driver and raise a family.
On July 1, 1950, Daniel married his first sweetheart, Elizabeth Ann Greer, the daughter of a farming family that lived in Nelson County. The couple settled in the Hikes Point neighborhood of Louisville, where Daniel worked for the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Elizabeth Ann taught piano, and they raised three daughters.
After 12 years, the Cheathams moved to a quiet subdivision near Mount Washington to be closer to family in Nelson County, and built a larger, multi-story brick house. They lived in this house for the rest of their lives, always welcoming children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews to Sunday lunch, birthdays, and holiday meals. To call him a “family man” would be an understatement.
When he retired from TARC after 40 years, he still enjoyed people and driving. No one was surprised that he drove for Schmid Funeral Home in Mount Washington for another 20 years. He was a Mason for more than 50 years. He was a member of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Salt River Lodge. He was also a member of Mount Washington United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 73 years, Elizabeth Ann; his parents, Marvin and Maggie Cheatham; three sisters, Katherine, Isabell and Alma; seven brothers, Dorchester, Justice, J.L., George, Kenneth, Rudolph, and Sanford; and one son in law, Jeff Stopher.
He is survived by three daughters, Dianna Lee Summers (Don) of Elizabethtown, Pamela Joy Stopher of Taylorsville, and Alice Greer Cheatham of Mount Washington; one brother, Marvin F. Cheatham of Louisville; one sister-in-law, Mattie Greer of Woodlawn; four grandchildren, Tara Lee Bower (Sean), Daniel Byron Summers, Chad Allen (Samantha), and Wesley Robert Stopher (Kara); and four great-grandchildren, Violet Bower, Dakota Allen, Cami Clark and Rowan Smith.
The funeral is 11 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Schmid Funeral Home in Mount Washington. Burial is in the Poplar Flat Cemetery.
Visitation is 1-6 p.m. Sunday, March 2, 2025, and 9-11 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Schmidt Funeral Home in Mount Washington.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Mt. Washington United Methodist Church, 253 Flatlick Rd., Mt. Washington, KY, 40047, with a note to indicate a Memorial Gift for Daniel Cheatham.
The Schmid Funeral Home in Mount Washington is in charge of arrangements.
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