Winona Rose "Nonie" Wheeler

Winona Rose (Nonie) Wheeler. Nonie was born October 8, 1939 to Ernest and Gertrude (Vail) Webberley in Camas, Washington. She returned to her Heavenly Father on December 31, 2019 at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence.

Nonie was raised on her parent’s rural farm in Camas, Washington. She was the third of four daughters. Nonie loved the outdoors and helping her Dad around the farm. She learned to drive by driving the hay truck (stick shift) around the fields while her father and others loaded the bales. She also spent most of her teenage years milking the cows both morning and evening. She loved the sing along with the radio while milking. Nonie and her three sisters loved to sing together while they were working around their home. They made a wonderful quartet. She also sang in a duet with her sister Ann in local competitions while they were in high school and did quite well. She especially loved the hymns of her church.

Nonie was baptized in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints when she was eight years old. She served faithfully in her church all of her life. She taught Sunday school classes for over 50 years, she was a youth leader, women’s leader and music director from time to time. She was always happy to be in the service of her Lord. She was an invaluable support to her husband, Ray, during the times when he was the Pastor at different branches of their church.

She met her husband Ray while in Zions League and they dated through her years in high school. They were married October 21, 1956 and were best friends and sweethearts for over 63 years. They had three children, Timothy Lee, Peggy Jo and Connie Jean. From the time she was married she only wanted to be a wife and a mother, and no one ever did it better than she did. Ask her husband and children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Over the years, she also adopted many, many other people as her own. Her love was unfathomable-only God and His Son loved more.

Nonie also loved to decorate her home. When she decorated, she changed most of the pictures on the walls. She had a curio cabinet, a hanging glass windowed cabinet and china cabinet plus the mantle and hearth of the fireplace. She made little villages on the top of the mantle and piano, filled those cabinets with Precious Moments and other small figurines. Pretty much if there was a spot flat enough, she had something set on it and she changed these decorations 9 times a year for various holidays and seasons.

We must mention that Nonie loved to take pictures and has a lot of you on film and all of you in her heart.

Nonie was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Gertrude Webberley and her sister Martha (husband, Richard) Chisholm. She is survived by her husband Raymond (Ray) Wheeler, her sisters Marlys and husband Dale Bainter and Ann and husband Dan Smith. Her children, son Timothy, daughter, Peggy and husband, Larry Garrett, Connie and husband, Randy Downey, 5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Nonie’s Celebration of Life service will be held on January 25, 2020. Visitation will be from 3-4:00pm with a service following at 4:00pm, both at Buckner Restoration Branch, 2607 N Twyman Rd., Independence, MO 64058-2249.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to be made to: Center Place Restoration School, 819 W Waldo Ave., Independence, MO 64050. All five of Nonie’s grandchildren and one great-grandchild have graduated from CPRS. One great-grandson is still attending.