Mary Rapp Wheeler was born on Oct. 30, 1929, in Waverly, Ohio. She was the first of her 11 siblings to graduate high school, as two of her older brothers had left school early to join the Navy during World War ll. After graduation, Mary left Waverly and moved to Dayton, Ohio, and went to work for the Sunshine Biscuit Co. It wasn't long before she got married, started a family, and moved to Jacksonville, Fla., in 1956. After several years, she moved into her first home, and her family grew. In 1970, she went to work for J.C. Penney as a sales associate. She loved her job and seldom missed work. Then, in 1990, Mary retired; four years later, when her husband Dallas passed away, she moved to Gainesville, Fla., to live with her daughter and son-in-law. After 14 years, she remarried Forrest "Frosty" Wheeler and moved to Archer, Fla., with whom she remained happily married until his death five years later.
In 2018, Mary moved once again with her daughter and son-in-law and relocated to O'Brien, Fla., where she attended the O'Brien Baptist Church and made many new friends. She loved the Lord and accepted Christ, and was baptized in 1993 at age 63, along with her first husband. She loved sitting on the front porch and admiring nature and the flowers in the yard she had worked with so passionately. The flowers in Heaven just got a little brighter! The family is extremely thankful for the wonderful care and thoughtfulness shown by friends and healthcare staff in the final days of her journey. Mary was 95 years old and was lovingly referred to as "granny" in the facility where she spent her last 20 months.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Sherry Roberts (Don); son, Dallas L. Wilke; sister, Frances Pierce, along with nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held at Daniels Funeral Home Chapel in Branford, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 2. The service was held at O'Brien Baptist Church at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, with Rev. Keith Jones Officiating. Interment followed in the O'Brien Cemetery.
Daniels Funeral Homes & Crematory of Live Oak and Branford is in charge of arrangements.