Obituary of Mary Frances Wheeler

Mary Frances Wheeler, 87, the daughter of Tod William and Frances Strickland (Lister) Wheeler, was born June 5, 1921 in Newton, Iowa. She graduated with the class of 1939 from the Newton Senior High School and attended Drake University in Des Moines, IA. Mary was employed at Newton Manufacturing from 1941 to 1980. She worked as an executive secretary and retired as a Customer Service Supervisor. Mary was a lifelong resident of Newton, Iowa. She devoted herself to her family and community. Mary was a longtime Camp Fire Girls leader. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, serving as Youth Fellowship sponsor, Church School Superintendent, Historian, Bell Choir, Trustee, United Methodist Women and many other committees; Newton Women's Club; Golden K Kiwanis; CW and Chat-a-bit clubs; Jasper County Historical Society; and as a board member of the Newton Y.M.C.A. and Friends of the Library. In 1986 Mary received the Governor's Volunteer Award for her years of service to the Iowa Commission for the Blind and their volunteer reading program. Activities on the century family farm were also a large part of her life. Mary enjoyed extensive traveling, photography, needlework, reading poetry and playing bridge. Mary passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 in the Monarch Wing of Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Eleanor L. Wheeler on March 5, 2003. Those left to honor Mary's memory include several cousins, including Jody Lister Gooch (David) of Newton; and her good neighbors and friends including many at Park Centre.