Susan Jane Wheeler's Obituary
Susan Jane Wheeler, 64, passed away on December 13, 2014 at her home in Miami . She was born in Great Bend, Kansas in 1950 to Marie (Murphy) Wheeler and Raymond H. Wheeler and moved with her family to the Murphy family farm near Twin Bridges, Oklahoma when she was 6.
Her father passed away in 1964 and her mother in 1992. Susan resided with her aunt Hazel Murphy and uncle Jay Murphy until their passing. Her aunt Ruby Murphy and her aunt Sallie Murphy, who operated Sallie’s Beauty Nook on the south side of the Coleman theater building in Miami, were similarly important in her life. In 2004, Susan became a resident at the Elmwood group home in Miami, managed by the Home of Hope, and worked at Hope Industries in Vinita. She is survived by her brother and guardian, James R. Wheeler, of Joplin, MO, his wife and co-guardian, Mollie M. Wheeler, and three nephews, Kevin and Glenn Wheeler of Joplin, and Michael Wheeler of Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Thanks to the Home of Hope, Susan thrived in her environment at Elmwood, enjoying activities like Special Olympics, parties, the zoo, plays in Tulsa, and movies. She was proud of her paychecks from Hope Industries and that she was helping to earn her way. Susan was a loving person who never had a bad thought about anyone. She was able to attend a special education curriculum in the Miami, OK school system through the 12th grade. She could read and write well and one of her greatest pleasures was learning about celebrities and historical figures. She had an excellent memory not only for those details but for the names of everyone around her and even of their children. She was a people person, forever young.
Two people who played a very important part in Susan’s life were Phyllis and Troy Essex who knew her aunt Hazel through fellowship at First Christian Church of Miami. The Essex’s charitably and lovingly took Susan to church, to the library, and helped her with shopping and personal care. No one could have been more attentive, even had they been godparents.
Susan’s health declined abruptly in November and she was subsequently diagnosed with cancer. The family is grateful to the congregation of the First Christian Church of Miami who made Susan at home in the church family. The family is grateful to Legacy Hospice of Vinita for easing pain and difficulties and especially to the Home of Hope’s staff at Elmwood for their professional and loving care over the past ten years and through the final stressful days.
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