Beatrice "Hope" Cheezum

GRANTS PASS, Ore. - Beatrice "Hope" Cheezum, 103, died Saturday, June 30, 2007, at the Catherine Jensen"s Adult Foster Care Home.

Mrs. Cheezum was born April 17, 1904, in Somerville, Mass., the daughter of the late Joseph Gage Chase and Mary Alice Chase. She was raised on Cape Cod and later moved to Cambridge, Md., where, in 1924, she married William Harvey Cheezum Sr. After the the death of her husband in 1958, Mrs. Cheezum traveled, spending winters near San Jose, Calif., and the summers on the Eastern Shore. She finally moved to California where she lived for 39 years until May 2000, when she moved to Grants Pass.

Mrs. Cheezum was a homemaker who loved her Bible and spending time with family. She also enjoyed crocheting, music and crafts. While residing in Maryland, Mrs. Cheezum was a member of the Baptist Church in Cambridge.

Survivors include three daughters: Sarah J. Abbott of Madison, Md., Dorothy May Bradbury and Beatrice H. Peters, both of Grants Pass; and one son, William "Harvey" Cheezum Jr. of Madison; 13 grandchildren, Michael Abbott, Sandra Hare, Terry Lynn Abbott, Michael Abbott Jr., Richard Abbott, Pamela Shields, David Bradbury, Mark Bradbury, Sam Bradbury, William Harvey "Bill" Cheezum III, Anthony "Tony" Cheezum, Dale Peters, and Deborah Peters; 26 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives.

Mrs. Cheezum was preceded in death by seven brothers, Joseph Chase, Sidney Chase, Everett Chase, Charles Chase, Albert Chase, Author Chase and Hezzie Chase; and two sisters, Maude Chase and Hazel Hurley.

A graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, at the old Marde]a Cemetery in Mardela Springs, where burial will follow. There will be an additional gathering to celebrate the life of Mrs. Cheezum at 2 p.m. Saturday at "Harvey"s New Barn," 1343 Taylors Island Road, Madison.

Oregon arrangements were handled by Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives. Local arrangements are being handled by the Zeller Funeral Home in East New Market.