Lodi Couple Killed In Plane Crash Were Grandparents Who Found New Love
LODI (CBS13) – Rowland Cheney's bronze sculptures are displayed all over town.
His friends say his most famous one in downtown Lodi resembles the artist and his wife who passed away.
"He cared for a lot of things, he cared for other people. He's been through a lot," said Ken Norgaard, a friend of Cheney's
Norgaard says Cheney was finally back on cloud nine with his new love.
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"He met a nice lady named Mary. And boy he was sure happy," Norgaard said.
Rowland was with Mary Doucette when the unthinkable happened on Thursday: The plane they were in crashed about 25 miles off Ketchikan, Alaska. They were two of the eight passengers aboard what was a short excursion, sold through the Holland America cruise line.
No one survived.
Friends of the couple are still in shock the two aren't coming back.
"I just lost it for a little while," Nicole Barron said.
Barron lived next door to Doucette and says Cheney was her father's best friend. She says not only were they great people, they were made for each other.
"When I found out they were dating each other, I literally had chills because I thought that is a perfect match," Baron said.
A match that will be missed – and a sculptor never forgotten.
"I think that his legacy will stand in Lodi forever for the simple fact that he brought something to this community that everyone is going to remember," said friend Drew Reyes.
Both Doucette and Cheney were grandparents. The NTSB is investigating what caused the plane to go down.