Beth Marie Wheeler, age 61, Jameson, MO, died on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, with her family by her side.
Beth was born on May 19, 1956. She was the fourth of five children born to Mary (Trapp) and Harry Wheeler, Jr. of Jameson. She graduated from Jameson High School in 1974, Missouri Western State College with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Leisure Studies in 1977, and Central Missouri State University with a Masters in Recreation and Leisure Studies in 1979.
Lifelong native and Jameson community leader Beth Wheeler served two terms on the Missouri House of Representatives before joining the staff of Governor Mel Carnahan. She worked at Northwest Missouri State and at Missouri Western State universities before retiring in 2012.
Beth spent her life serving people. She worked for the University of Missouri Extension 4-H in several counties, and served two terms on the Missouri House of Representatives before joining the staff of Governor Mel Carnahan. Beth left the political scene and worked at Northwest Missouri State University and then Missouri Western State University as Director of External Relations. Beth retired from MWSU in February of 2012 after working there for 13 years.
Beth was an accomplished athlete playing basketball in high school and competitive summer softball. She was also on the first Missouri Western women’s basketball team. She enjoyed the challenges of her political races and serving the people of her District as well as working with the Governor.
Beth never forgot where she came from…she was very proud to be from Daviess County and the small community of Jameson. She liked to say, “All roads lead to Jameson.” Beth’s dream for retirement was to return to Jameson and serve the town and its people.
Beth had been a long time member of the Eastern Star and the Jameson Lions Club. On her return to the area she served on the North Daviess School Board, the Jameson Community Betterment board, and the Village of Jameson Board of Trustees.
She played a major role in obtaining grants and reorganizing the city water project. Beth took her turn writing for the Jameson Gem, led fundraising campaigns for the new roof on the Christian Church and new windows in the North Daviess School.
Beth felt it was important to keep the Post Office in Jameson and had a loyal list of people that bought stamps from the post office to keep it flourishing. She felt it was important for the younger residents to have things to do so she helped start a youth group at the church and showed movies on Main Street on Friday nights in the summer.
Beth was always involved in the annual Jameson Picnic, fish frys, chilli suppers and other fundraisers. She was always looking for a reason to bring residents of the town and county together.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents Mary and Harry Wheeler and her older sisters Vicki and Leta Wheeler.
She is survived by her older brother Harry and his wife Annie of Cameron, younger brother Frank and his wife Pam of Blue Springs, three nephews, Brian (Tina) Wheeler, Jordan Wheeler, and Brooks Wheeler; and one niece, Lauren Jacobs; great-nephews, Jackson Wheeler, Jake Wheeler, and Creed Jacobs; and great-niece Piper Jacobs.
