Gayle Jeanine Wheeler

Our mom was nothing short of a warrior.

Sunshine and cold temperatures welcomed our mom to heaven on April 8, 2025, after passing away at home where she was the happiest. She grew up on a farm where her love of cows and the outdoors was born. She could grow anything and loved the heat of summertime. Her green thumb resulted in beautifully canned vegetables, fruits, and jelly's that she fed her family season after season. Years ago, while visiting her parents in Florida, she found a pineapple seed that a hurricane unearthed. She brought it home, planted it, nurtured it, and grew it into a healthy plant that she transplanted back to its Florida origin. One of her proudest accomplishments was when this healthy plant produced a pineapple 2 years later. Another source of pride were her citrus trees that were grown from seed. In time, the fragrant blossoms would produce an orange and a lemon. Vibrant flower baskets and hummingbird feeders adorned her front porch, perennial flower beds bloomed beautiful colors well into the fall and the sound of the water trickling from her goldfish pond was especially soothing after a long day.

Our mom was a dirt track racing wife and mother. She could be found in the stands and behind the video camera religiously. She is well-known for her hand crocheted, black and white checkered, racing blankets. She lovingly made one for each of her kids, grand kids and great grandkids. She handcrafted dozens more over the years as gifts and donations for benefits and fundraisers. Our mom's ultimate love was her family. Regardless of the time, day or night, she was glad to see and listen to her kids, grand kids and great grand kids. It did not matter if she saw you an hour ago or 2 days ago, a natural smile would spread across her face. Our mom found comfort in the simple life and touched more lives than she ever knew. She put everyone's needs before her own, her entire life, and is the true definition of unselfish.

Surviving is her husband of 51 years, Terry, 4 children, Leigh and his wife, Nadena, Deanna Hooks and her husband Shaun, Terry and his wife, Angela, Starlet Haylett and her husband Mike, seven grandchildren; Tori Wheeler, Ryleigh and Brayden Booher, Chase and Karleigh Grimm, Aydan and Austin Wheeler; six extended grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one extended great-grandchild; her parents Leigh and Janet Bowes, her brother; Roger (Darlene) Bowes, her sister; Luan (Randy) Cress, her brother Dan Bowes and his partner Heather, her sister; Cynthia (Carmen) Fonzo, her sister-in-laws Linda (Jim) McClelland and Mina (Tom) Parker, and brother-in-laws, Steve Guthrie and Mark Thompson.

Gayle is preceded in death by her brother, Don Bowes; her sister-in-law, Diane Guthrie; her brother-in-law, Jack Wheeler; Her mother and father-in-law, Marg and Jimmie Wheeler; and a nephew, Jimmy McClelland.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Rose and Black Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 99 Franklin St. Stoneboro, PA 16153. The greatest gift we can think of to honor our loving, caring, beautiful, mother is to share our memories of her at a Celebration of Life that will be held at a later date. 

Online condolences may be made to the family rosefh.com.