Bernice Lorene (Breshears) Wheeler ("Bernie") passed away on August 4, 2022, at Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility in Bolivar, Missouri from complications of pneumonia. Born October 18, 1928 near Fairfield, Missouri, to Lawrence and Zelma (Bird) Breshears, she is survived by her husband, Lewis Wheeler, sons James Wheeler and Jeffrey Wheeler, grandson Joel Wheeler, granddaughter Meghan Wheeler and sister Maxine Dehart.
Obituary
Bernice Lorene (Breshears) Wheeler, 93, of Quincy, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in Bolivar.
She was born on October 18, 1924, near Fairfield, Missouri, the oldest of seven children of Lawrence and Zelma (Bird) Breshears. Bernie spent her early life in Breshears Valley and attended the Avery Schoolhouse. When she was ten years old, she rode a train to California with her family to seek out a better life during the Great Depression. She worked at an orchard pitting peaches for two years until they returned to Missouri in a Model A Ford at the start of World War II.
Bernie continued her education in Weaubleau before moving and graduating from Hermitage High School in 1947. After graduation, she attended college in Bolivar and passed the teacher’s exam. She taught first and second grade at Weaubleau School until she married, and always enjoyed seeing her former students.
She married Lewis Wheeler in Harrison, Arkansas, on June 22, 1948. The two lived on their farm in Quincy, where they raised cattle, pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats, starting out four years before electricity reached the area. She was active in the Friendly Circle Club for many years, an organization through the University of Missouri Extension program that helped rural residents with modernization. The members also organized community dinners and ice cream socials, and aided families in need.
Bernie raised two sons, Jeffrey and James Wheeler, and had two grandchildren, Joel and Meghan Wheeler. She loved spending time with her family and always encouraged and supported the endeavors of her sons and grandchildren. In her later years, Bernie enjoyed gardening, riding her 4-wheeler, watching hummingbirds, and spoiling her dogs.
Bernie is survived by her husband of 74 years, Lewis Wheeler, of Quincy, Missouri. She is also survived by her sister Maxine (Breshears) DeHart of Weaubleau, Missouri, son Jeffrey Wheeler of Kansas City, Missouri, and son James Wheeler, grandson Joel Wheeler, and granddaughter Meghan Wheeler of Quincy. Also surviving are her daughter-in-law Rebecca (Weatherford) Wheeler and granddaughter-in-law Samantha (Schmidt) Wheeler, both of Quincy, and many nieces and nephews, as well as her family of choice Glenn Preston, James Allen, and Bill McCroskey, each of whom she always called “one of my boys,” and longtime caregiver Jeanette Arthur.
A Celebration of Life is planned for this October at the Fairview Butcher Cemetery on Highway T. Further details will be announced at a later date.
In Memorium
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to:
Fairview-Butcher Cemetery Fund
C/O Linda Howard
599 St Rd U
Louisburg, MO 65685
Celebration of Life
Celebration of Life will be at Fairview-Butcher Church, interment at Fairview-Butcher Cemetery
October 15, 2022
1:00 PM
For information contact:
jwheeler@LeMeridel.com