Carolyn Jane Cheek, 87

Carolyn Jane Wingfield was born in 1950 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to Merdis And Sam Wingfield. Her early years were spent alongside two older brothers Sam and Jim in California and Oregon where they were no strangers to hard work.

Carolyn fell in love with the boy next door, Roland Cheek. A life of adventure ensued. Married for 69 years before Roland’s passing in April 2024. Jane initially lived a “June Cleaver” life baking cookies, wearing dresses, and keeping their kids Cheri and Marc in line. 

As Jane and Roland’s lives evolved and they became more immersed in outdoor adventure, Jane developed an Annie Oakley side and wielded her Ruger Bearcat pistol bringing in grouse or using bird shot to ward off unwanted turkeys on the home front. 

She drove fence posts alongside Roland and was known to buck bales and round up horses too. After the sale of their Skyline Outfitting business, she became Roland’s number one salesperson traveling the country promoting and selling his books. Grandson Josh wrote a letter to Momma Jane capturing the spirit of who she really was in the following: “I want to thank you for every moment  you instilled a sense of wonder and whimsy in me and so many others. In your final moments on earth, I am brought back to your inquisitiveness, adaptability, and ability to see people as attributes that I aspire to embody the rest of my days. You seamlessly have floated through conversation and orations granting anyone who has met you to know you as well as validating that you know and see them. You are like the smell of pines that gently greets and leaves our nose when we enter and  exit Montana — the bridge to a life’s symphony that invigorates and tends to our hearts… Just days before your stroke I told someone I had to see you because I wanted to have no regrets of missing out on the given opportunity. 

“I am grateful I got to hear more of your stories — new ones — before I left Montana — and also sad that I won’t hear just one more. When I look at so many portions of my life Grandpa Rol was the the panoramic view, stride and breath, and you were the documentary narrator with more life in your words than most of us have in our thumbs guiding us to see and take in all of it. 

“I now see that while Grandpa Rol spoke of “Wa” none of its nuance would be fully taken in had you not catalyzed it for the young and chatty ones — like myself — to understand. I believe our connection is not rooted in blood because it was meant for something greater. It is more a kin to the mycelium that connects the trees —you have been something that ushers in the knowledge of a life lived next to the newness of a life starting to know what living looks like. This letter to you is no goodbye. I will not say goodbye.  This is ‘until we meet again’ when I see a hummingbird, when I touch Indian paintbrush, when I look up a butterfly you won’t be there to name, when I tend to a fire at Spotted Bear and I think of the time that you called me a pyro. You have given me a fire to tend and that is what I will do. You have stoked it with your knowledge, your presence, with fossils, a flute. Your body dies soon but your flame will not. This fire you have given me for life will incense me in your smoke and love. It will live because it would be an injustice if it didn’t. A generation has come where they will not get the luxury of knowing you or any other of the Greats so I promise to make sure that they know you in me.” 

Our Momma Jane passed away early Sept. 5th, 2024 at Hospice House of Spokane where she had been taken care of with utmost respect and care the last week of her life. She heard all of your beautiful inspiring messages. We will hold some version of a private service for Momma Jane when her spring flowers are showing off in her garden. She is survived by her children Cheri Johnson (Randy), Marc Cheek, and grandson Justin Cheek (Amy).

Condolences for the family and an online tribute video are located on Carolyn’s webpage at columbiamortuary.com