My mom, Janie D. Wheeler, passed away May 29th in Sturgis, SD less than a month before her 91st birthday. She was born on June 25th, 1935, in Holmes County, MS in a home out in the country. She was the oldest of three daughters born to Henry and Kathleen. Due to her father’s jobs, they often moved around central Mississippi. She graduated from Lexington High School where she played saxophone in the band, sang in choir, and was in 4-H. We travelled to Mississippi almost every Christmas until I went to college. There was always a weekly phone call to her parents.

After graduation she worked two years before going to college at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, TX. Mom loved words, books, and learning and later earned her Masters Degree from SDSU. She so appreciated the degree and the start she got from Mary Hardin Baylor that she and Dad endowed a scholarship for women studying to teach English. She never stopped encouraging others to learn more, read more, and think bigger.

It is important to note here that while at UMHB she made lifelong friends that became known as the North End Gang. She got her BA and got her first job teaching English in Killeen, TX. Many people don’t know, but Mom met her first husband while in Killeen. His name was Ned Pierce. They married in 1962 and moved to his hometown of Orem, UT. They lived there for 18 months until he was killed in a work accident. My dad and Ned were friends at Ft Hood. Ned had said if anything ever happened to him that my dad would take care of Mom. They wrote to each other while Dad was in Korea and upon his return, Dad went to Utah to see Mom. In June of 1964, they were married in Brookings. I have those letters and will read them someday.

Mom taught English in the Brookings School District for 32 years. She enjoyed teaching and said that her former students might say she enjoyed torturing them, but I know that she truly cared for her students. One of her former students told me, “Charlie, I loved your mom so much. She was pivotal at a time when I needed firm structure from someone who cared about me. She was that and more”. Mom retired in 1996.

Mom loved tending to her garden and surrounding herself with beautiful flowers. Even in later years, Dad continued to bring her flowers right up until his passing; a simple gesture that reflected their love. Together, they enjoyed traveling and searching for antiques, returning home with countless treasures and memories. Mom also had a passion for shopping for clothes and shoes; she had an impeccable sense of style. Whether browsing antique stores or dress shops, she and Dad were always on the lookout for something special.

Creativity was woven into everything Mom did. She loved quilting, sewing, and decorating, but quilting was truly her gift. You knew you were deeply loved when Mom made a quilt especially for you. Every fabric choice and design was thoughtfully inspired by the recipient, and countless hours were spent piecing, sewing, and quilting each one by hand. Her quilts were more than blankets. They were rare works of art and lasting expressions of love. It was one of the greatest losses for her when arthritis eventually made quilting impossible, as it was a craft that brought her immense joy and allowed her to share that joy with others.

Mom loved to cook and made some delicious meals. I’m sure it frustrated her to no end that I was a hamburger and hotdog kid that smothered everything in ketchup. She still laughed up until she passed every time I ordered a hamburger. She entertained with the heart of a Southern hostess. Of all the things she made, her bread, waffles and biscuits are the ones most fondly remembered.

She loved the North End Gang. They traveled to Texas yearly for a reunion until they just couldn’t do it anymore. Most of all, she loved Dad and me. Lord knows we weren’t perfect, but her love for us was unfailing.

Mom is survived by her son Charlie (Melissa) Wheeler, several nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved, and cherished family friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ned, husband Mason, her parents, and her sisters.

Memorial services will be July 8th, 10:30am at McCrory Gardens in Brookings, with a meal to follow. Inurnment will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Mom wanted memorials directed to their scholarship fund at University of Mary Hardin Baylor 900 College St. Belton, Texas 76513.