William James "Jim" Wheeler

July 29, 1950 - September 30, 2026

William James "Jim" Wheeler, a lifelong resident of the Henryetta area, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 76. He was born July 29, 1950, in Martha, Oklahoma, to William Fred Wheeler and Mary Frances (Barnes) Wheeler.

Jim made his home in the Pleasant Valley community, where he built a life centered around family, hard work, laughter, and more than a few good stories. On June 24, 1981, he married Donna Marie Donathan at Henryetta First Baptist Church. Together, Jim and Donna combined two families and raised five rambunctious kids. Life could be loud, busy, and a little crazy, but through it all, they built a marriage that lasted 45 years.

Jim loved Donna, and the two of them simply enjoyed being together. As the kids grew and life slowed down a little, they made the most of their time with each other. It wasn't unusual to see them riding around Pleasant Valley or the Wilson area in the Polaris, Donna in the passenger seat and Jim behind the wheel, usually trying to see if he could get it to go just a little faster than the last time.

Hard work was simply part of who Jim was. He believed that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right, and that was a lesson he passed along to his children and grandchildren. He served his community as a firefighter with the Henryetta Fire Department for nine years and always drove a truck to make extra income. During the 1970s and 1980s, he drove trucks delivering native stone throughout much of northeastern Oklahoma. He pipelined for a few years with his brother-in-laws and drove trucks for different companies throughout is career. Proudly owning his own Peterbilt for several years. He later worked with his son Brett at Verona Marble Company retiring in 2014.

Retirement didn't mean Jim was ready to sit still. After retiring from Verona Marble, he began driving a school bus and he faithfully drove the bus for Dewar First Baptist Church, where he was a member. Vacation Bible School held a special place in his heart because it gave him another opportunity to spend time with the children and drive the bus.

Driving was more than something Jim did for a living-it was one of his great passions. He loved trucks, cars, and just about anything with wheels. Give him the year of a particular vehicle and chances were he could describe it in vivid detail. He knew the engines, the body styles, what made one year different from another, and probably had a story about one he had driven somewhere along the way. He was proud of the miles he had traveled and liked to remind people, "I have backed more miles than you have even driven forward."

Jim had his own way of making people feel important. His Mickey Mouse school bus was known to make an occasional spontaneous stop at the elementary school just to see his daughter Jayme, who worked there. The boys could tell similar stories. Jim might show up unexpectedly or call because he had something he needed their help with-or sometimes simply because he

wanted to see them. Whatever the reason, he had a way of making his children feel special, useful, and needed. That was just Jim's way.

To so many children, and especially to his grandchildren, Jim was simply "Poppy."

Poppy had a way of making things fun. You never quite knew what he might show up with next. It could be a go-cart, bicycles, scooters, an animal, or something else he had found that he just knew the kids or grandkids would enjoy. If it looked fun, interesting, or likely to make a memory, there was a good chance Jim would bring it home.

But perhaps one of Poppy's greatest gifts was telling a story.

When Jim started telling one, people gathered around and listened-especially the grandkids. The more everyone laughed, the better the story became. With every laugh, another detail might find its way into the telling, and the story might not end exactly the way it happened the first time. But that didn't matter. If Poppy said it, it was fact.

Those stories, and the laughter that came with them, became part of the fabric of his family. They are stories his children and grandchildren will continue telling, probably with a few embellishments of their own-just the way Poppy would have wanted.

Jim also treasured the friendships he made throughout his life. He enjoyed gathering with friends for the weekly "table of knowledge" at Shoney's, where stories, opinions, advice, and plenty of conversation were shared around the table.

Jim's life was filled with work and service, but the things that mattered most to him were much simpler: Donna beside him, his children and grandchildren gathered around, something with wheels nearby, a good story to tell, and enough laughter in the room to encourage him to make that story just a little better.

He leaves his family with countless memories-not only of the big moments, but of the ordinary ones that became special simply because Poppy was there.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Donna, of the home; his children, Brandon Wheeler and wife Carlie of Henryetta, Brett Wheeler and wife Billie Jean of Coweta, Jayme Matlock and husband Patrick of Henryetta, Dean Wright and wife Ruby of Henryetta, and Brandon Wright and wife Rebecca of Henryetta; eleven grandsons and four granddaughters; seven great-grandchildren, his sisters, Ramona Mathis of Florida, wife of the late Don Mathis, and Brenda Wheeler of Oklahoma City; his brother, Kevin "Nugget" Wheeler; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Viewing will be held Monday, October 5, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Integrity Funeral Service.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Dewar First Baptist Church, with Rev. Brett Wheeler and Rev. Ryan Wells officiating.

Services and cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Integrity Funeral Service.