Joseph Ephron Wheeley

SERVICES: 2:00 Thursday, July 17, 2008, at the United Methodist Church of White Deer, with Rev. Pam Lehman, former pastor, Rev. John Westman, pastor, and Dr. Don Williams, officiating.BURIAL: Miami Cemetery in Miami, with military rites courtesy U. S. Air Force personnel, Altus AFB, Altus, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.BIOGRAPHY: Mr. Wheeley was born on April 3, 1918 in Franklin, Texas, one of 8 children born to James Andrew and Jessie Eola Barnes Wheeley. Joe was preceded in death by all 7 of his siblings. He married Sara Branch on September 5, 1942 in Houston. He had been a resident of the Texas Panhandle since 1949, farming before beginning work for Celanese Corporation. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army Air Force, serving during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Joe was as active as one could be in the First United Methodist Church where he served in every volunteer job possible, including singing in the choir, leading the youth, teaching Sunday School, serving as communion steward, and representative to annual conferences. He was an avid fan of local high school sports and hardly missed a game. He was an amazing golfer and one who truly loved the game, winning a tournament even after he lost one eye. Joe was always willing to share his golfing love and knowledge with new players. He was a joy to play with...always ready to help others, always with a twinkle in his eye, a great Santa Claus, a positive kind and loving spirit. If you think of a Bible verse about love being patient and kind, then Joe would be the epitome of that. He was a non-stop kind and loving volunteer and supporter of the youth, the elderly and the entire community. He could make apple dumplings that were fantastic. He could make peach preserves really well and had been a co-plum picker and jelly maker for years. He always kept a beautiful yard with fruit trees and grapes and handed out thousands of homemade popcorn balls at Halloween. Many people knew Joe from his years of volunteer service at Pampa Regional Medical Center where he was president of the organization at one time. More could be said, but the best thing would be a big thank you from his children, his grandchildren and his beautiful wife Sara for being the good and kind man that he was and for setting such an example of goodness to everyone he encountered.SURVIVORS: Wife of 65 years: Sara Wheeley of the home; 4 loving children: Joe Hubert Wheeley and wife Sara of Pampa, Sharon Graff and husband Vic, Jan Flowers and husband Larry, and Nina Gray and husband Duncan, all of Houston; grandchildren: Collin and Rachel Bray and their children Jack and Erin, Julie Bray, Roy and Christina Graff, Matthew, Joseph and Michael Gray, all of Houston, Duncan and Shawn Gray and their children, Sugaree and Archie Gray of Farmington, New Mexico, J. J. Wheeley-Slatten and son Joseph, Heather and Richie Thompson, and Joanna Wheeley, all of Pampa; other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews and special friend and neighbor, Jen Schnelle. The family also thanks Vicky Tolbert and Marilyn Nichols for their kind and loving care. MEMORIALS: United Methodist Church of White Deer, or White Deer Senior Citizens Center.