Bill Wheatley

Friday, September 19, 2008

EAST PRAIRIE -- William Paul "Bill" Wheatley, 61, died at 3:12 a.m. Sept. 19, 2008, in the East Prairie Nursing Center.

Born Aug. 14, 1947, in Mississippi County, to the late Edgar "Ed" and Vivian Marie Thompson Wheatley, he lived all of his life in Mississippi County where he was a retired mechanic.

On Jan. 8, 1968, he married Minnie Beatrice Merryman who preceded him in death on Oct. 31, 1998.

He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Rebecca Ann Wheatley; one brother, Harley Gene Wheatley; and seven sisters, Lavern Chandler, Francis Phillips, Dora Schull, Cora Haygood, Birdie Merryman, Marie Woods and Betty Wheatley.

Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, William "B.J." and Lesli Wheatley of Bell City; two daughters and sons-in-law, Melissa and Todd Crumley of East Prairie and Beverley and Bo Jenkins of Sikeston; three brothers, Arthur Wheatley, John Kirby and George Kirby of East Prairie; four sisters, Lois Coxville of the state of Georgia, Nancy Hedges and Bonnie Brown of East Prairie and Ruth Ann Burns of Diehlstadt; and nine grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie where services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday with Mike Johnson officiating.

Burial will follow in the East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.