Austin Cheek

Cheek

Austin Hague Cheek had a great passion and pride for firefighting and it was this passion that made him respond to a fire on the morning of Friday, Aug. 3, 2007.

Austin lost his life courageously following his passion and will forever be remembered for his courage and bravery.

Funeral services for Austin Hague Cheek were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Green Acres Baptist Church chapel.

Burial followed at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery under direction of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Directors, Tyler.

Austin was born Sept. 2, 1987, in Tyler.

He was employed with Office Depot and was a firefighter with the Noonday Volunteer Fire Department.

He was a 2006 graduate of Whitehouse High School and a member of Green Acres Baptist Church, South Campus.

He enjoyed open water scuba diving and planned to combine his passion as a firefighter with scuba diving to train as a rescue diver and paramedic.

Above all things, Austin loved his Lord and was confident of his faith.

He is survived by his fiancée, T.J. Wilbanks of Tyler; mother and step-father, Tracey and Rick Bales of Tyler; father and step-mother, Rick Cheek and Susan Stroman of Crandall and stepbrother Jarrett; grandparents, Jan and Joe Hague of Tyler, Jack Cheek of Bullard; brothers, Adam Cheek of Jonesboro, Ark., Aaron Cheek of Tyler, and Jacob Bales of Tyler; sister and brotherin law, Angelia and Randy Jackson of Bullard.

Pallbearers were Adam Cheek, Aaron Cheek, Jacob Bales and members of the Noonday Volunteer Fire Department.

Honorary pallbearers were the Noonday Volunteer Fire Department.