Tsutose "Chiyoko" Cheek

Tsutose Cheek (Chiyoko), age 96, of Fayetteville NC, peacefully passed away October 13, 2025.

She was born in Tokyo, Japan, where she met the love of her life, Lee Cheek. They were married for 64 years. Chiyoko and Lee had one daughter, Christine Cheek Higgins.

Chiyoko is survived by her daughter, Christine and her husband Gregory Higgins, granddaughter, Christine M. Higgins and her husband Brian Kerrigan, and great granddaughter Jolene Kerrigan. She is predeceased by her husband, Lee A. Cheek (Marion, NC), father, Tsunegiro Morinaga (Tokyo, Japan), mother Seki Matsubara (Toyama ,Japan).

Chiyoko was a talented seamstress and earned a degree from the Bunka Fashion College in the late 1940’s. Her final college project was to make a wedding dress from paper. She loved high fashion and often made her own patterns from pictures in magazines. She was also an artist and practiced many forms such as shodo (Japanese calligraphy), bonsai tree design, tsumami-zaiku (silk flower making), and painting. She spent many hours caring for her backyard garden.  She was also an active member of Kaede-Kaii, Japanese organization for many years and enjoyed directing and participating in the talent shows and other social events.  Chiyoko also enjoyed hosting karaoke and card games with her friends.

Her vibrant personality will be missed by all that knew her.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10:00 am on October 27, 2025 at the Cumberland Memorial Gardens, 4509 Raeford Rd. Fayetteville, NC. Reverend Jun Masuzaki will officiate.

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com

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