Chloe Creech

Chloe Creech, 87, of Canton, Ohio, passed away Friday, December 6th at St. Luke Lutheran Community Nursing Facility, surrounded by family. Chloe was born October 28, 1937 in Tina, Kentucky, to the late John M. and Matilda (Roberts) Creech. 

She grew up in a cabin deep in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with 5 siblings; her eldest sibling, Ruby, instilled in her a passion for books that fed her desire to pursue her education. Living in rural Appalachia, she went away to a settlement school where she not only gained her primary education, but also learned how to make a bed with “hospital corners,” something that she carried throughout her adult life; she was very particular about making her bed and no one other than her could be trusted with this task. She then attended Alice Loyd College where she got her undergraduate degree in English Literature and Education. She taught English Literature while living with her eldest Sister, Ruby, all while taking care of their elderly parents and raising their nieces, Anita and Annette. A few years later she enrolled in a graduate program in Library Science at the University of Kentucky (UK). While at UK she met a friend who lived in Canton, Ohio, who informed Chloe of a high school in Canton in need of a Librarian. Chloe sent her resume and was hired as the Librarian at Canton South High School. After her eventual retirement from public education she worked as the Director of Community Outreach at the Stark County District Library. One of her proudest achievements in this position was creating and developing the Kid Mobile, which was a kid specific bookmobile unit that traveled to schools and various areas in the community.

She never married, nor did she have any biological children; however, she was instrumental in helping to raise three generations of her family. It is said “it takes a village,” and Chloe was definitely the matriarch of hers. For her family, Chloe’s home was synonymous with good food, stories and laughter. She would have regular dinners and family gatherings at her home, where she could always be found in her favorite place, the kitchen. Chloe was always a mere phone call away and her door was always open for a visit or to be a safe place to call home. She loved children, and some would say that she never lost the heart of a child. She would create incredible games for the kids to play, and she would captivate listeners of all ages with Appalachian tales and folklore from her childhood. On occasion, she was also known to spin a tale or two of her own for all to enjoy.

Chloe enjoyed traveling with the people she loved; she visited all 50 states and explored Europe and the Caribbean.

Chloe’s faith was the foundation upon which she built her life. Her faith in God and love for Jesus shined through in everything she did. She faithfully attended Anchor Baptist Church until her declining health prevented her from going.

In 2017 She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and in 2018 moved into Missi and Glen’s home where she lived for 4 years until her disease progressed to a point that she was placed at St Luke’s.

Chloe is survived by her niece, Melissa Shedlock “Missi” (Glen), whom she raised as her own, and was grandmother to Missi’s three children: Cody Myers (Emily), Austin Myers (Olivia), and Darian Bobish, as well as a Great Grandmother to Eva and Hunter Myers.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Kreighbaum Sanders Funeral Home, 4041 Cleveland Ave. S., Canton, OH 44707. Friends and family may share condolences and memories at:

sandersfuneralhomes.com 

(330) 484-2525