Mary Evelyn Wheeler

Mary Evelyn Wheeler, age 90, of Little Rock, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2015. She was born May 22, 1924 in Clarksville, Tennessee to William Norris Pace, Sr. and Clara Hunt Pace. She was a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Little Rock. She was a 1942 graduate of Clarksville High School and a 1946 graduate of George Peabody College for Teachers and earned her Master's in Education from Vanderbilt University in 1947. She was preceded in death by her husband, Red Wheeler, her parents, a brother, William Norris Pace, Jr., and a sister, Mildred Presher. She is survived by her son, Robert Wheeler (Deborah) of Maumelle, her son, Jim Wheeler of Bryant, grandsons, Josh, Hunter and Will Wheeler of Maumelle, her brother, Bob (Cecile) of Clarksville, Tennessee, nieces, Susie Perry (Tom) of Clarksville, Tennessee, Lyn Crandall (Jeff) of Idaho, Elizabeth Pope (David) of Dallas, nephews, Chuck Presher (Jeannie) of Little Rock, Bill Presher (JuJu) of Virginia, and Bobby Pace (Cindy) of Georgia, and great-nephews and great-nieces, Ben Perry, Whitney, Brooke and Harper Pace. After graduating she was a teacher at El Dorado High School where she married Red in 1949. They moved to Little Rock where she was a teacher in the Little Rock School District for over 30 years as well as a girls Physical Education Teacher at Central High School during the integration crisis of 1957. She was a long time member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Altar Guild and the Triune Sunday School Class. Visitation will be at Ruebel Funeral Home on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 5 to 7 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Pinecrest Memorial Park on Friday, May 22, 2015 at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Betsy Singleton Snyder. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 1101 N. Mississippi St., Little Rock, Ark. 72207. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.