Sullivan-King Mortuary and Crematory
https://www.sullivanking.com
Ellen Margaret Hanna Cheek was born on March 27, 1931, in Anderson, SC along side her identical twin, Helen Martha. Ellen and Helen were the 7th and 8th (out of 9) children born to Ruby and Herman Hanna. Ellen had four additional sisters and three brothers. Ellen grew up in Anderson and graduated from Anderson High School in 1948.
She married James Aubrey Cheek in 1950. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Chicago, IL where James attended Gregg Business College for three years to obtain a business degree. After finishing his degree, they moved back to Anderson where he started his career at the Chamber of Commerce. James and Ellen loved living in Chicago and cherished their time there.
James accepted job offers at both the Chamber of Commerce in Cherryville, NC and later in Marion, NC where they lived for five years. In 1958, their second daughter, Kimberly was born.
In 1963, James accepted the job of Executive VP for the Chamber of Commerce in Lenoir, NC where he and Ellen lived for 40 years.
Ellen fulfilled a personal calling to work in the skin care arena and opened her first Merle Norman Cosmetics studio in Lenoir in 1964. Ellen had been introduced to MN products by a friend in Anderson. She wanted to spread the news and help women with skin care education. She had found her life's mission and went on to open three more MN locations in Hickory, NC, Morganton, NC, and Statesville, NC. Ellen eventually sold the Morganton and Statesville locations but retained her Hickory studio during her entire 40+ years in the skin care business.
As her business in her Hickory studio continued to grow, she occupied 3 different locations. She transformed her last and largest location to Merle Norman Cosmetics and Boutique where she received the coveted "Gold Medallion Studio" award. She carried everything she love from handbags and jewelry to lamps and afghan throws. She also carried specialty wigs which was a great service to women suffering from hair loss from chemotherapy. She and her staff were regularly called on to do the makeup for beauty pageants and weddings. She considered her employees her family and customers were her friends. Two of her employees were with her for over 30 years. After being in the MN business for so long, many people, including her own mother and sisters called her "Merle". She dressed to the nine's every day, even when not working.
James passed away from complications after removal of a kidney due to renal cancer and Ellen decided to sell her MN studio in Hickory in 2005 and moved back to Anderson to live close to her five remaining siblings. Ellen stayed in Anderson for ten years and eventually was the lone survivor of the Hanna family. Ellen's twin sister died in 1999. She moved to a retirement center in Mt. Pleasant, SC in 2014, to be closer to her oldest daughter, Donna, son-in-law Chris, and her beloved and only grandchild, Christos. Donna became Ellen's primary caretaker as she began to suffer from dementia. Donna was a devoted daughter, especially during Ellen's deteriorating health and made many personal sacrifices to be on call for her.
The Covid pandemic brought quarantine and isolation to her retirement facility and accelerated her dementia. After a fall and rehab, Ellen was moved to Memory Care at a facility on Daniel Island, SC.
Ellen and James were lifelong Baptists and members of First Baptist Church in Lenoir. Ellen was devoted to her large family in Anderson, her husband, her two daughters and grandson. She loved pretty feminine things and making people happy. She never met a stranger. She was also a great "southern" cook, enjoyed dancing, decorating and playing bridge.
Ellen is survived by her two daughters, Donna (Chris) Palles, Kim (Tommy) Saunders, grandson Christos (Rachelle) Palles, great-granddaughter Mia Risa Palles and brother-in-law, Victor Lee Cheek (Jeanette). She is also survived by two nieces, three nephews, and 15 great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family would also like to give a special thanks to Lutheran Hospice of Mt. Pleasant for their care and guidance over the last year. We are truly grateful for your service.
A graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Anderson, SC.
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