Phyllis Pickrell Wheeler

Phyllis Pickrell Wheeler died Friday, July 22, 2011 surrounded by all her family. Her life was an instrument of love, laughter, and generosity. Through her faith and God’s grace, she approached all of life’s rewards and challenges with unlimited enthusiasm and miraculous courage. “Queenie,” as her grandchildren and later many of her friends knew her, enriched the lives of countless people. Her special talents were her personality and persistent “love of life.”

Phyllis Pickrell was born September 9, 1938, on the family farm outside of Tipton, Oklahoma. Phyllis always expressed her love of her first “hometown” and truly believed it shaped her lifetime dedication to God, family, and community. Phyllis graduated from Tipton High School as valedictorian of the Class of 1956 where she was active in chorus, band, and the Methodist church choir, and crowned Farm Bureau Queen and Miss Tipton.

Phyllis attended the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, graduating in 1960 with a B. S. in Education. After graduation Phyllis taught elementary school for several years in Stillwater and Noble. Most importantly, Phyllis married Gene Wheeler on December 27, 1957. She and Gene established their life together; and Phyllis created a home wherever his banking career took them: Norman; Ponca City; Tucson, AZ; Duncan; and Oklahoma City.

Phyllis was a community leader in Duncan, dedicated to voluntarism through the United Way, Youth Services Board of Stephens County and other philanthropic efforts. She was a regular performer in Duncan’s “Civic Capers” and took great delight in her performances. In 1984 Phyllis’s community leadership was honored when she was awarded “Woman of the Year” by the Duncan Chamber of Commerce. Phyllis was immeasurably proud of her mid-life “hometown” of Duncan, which gave her the wonderful opportunity to raise their children in a supportive, nurturing Oklahoma community and to develop many of her life’s warmest friendships - especially her “bridge club” friends.

In 1985 Phyllis and Gene returned to Oklahoma City and spent the next 25 years surrounded by their three children and seven grandchildren. Phyllis was a member of PEO and of Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, where her heart and joy were her Kiva Sunday school class and singing with the choir. She was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City. At a time in her life when most of her friends were retiring, Phyllis returned to the working world in 1991 as receptionist for the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate. She later served as Executive Assistant to Senator Ted Fisher and finally as receptionist in the Senate Lobby through 2010.

Queenie will forever be remembered for her vivacious “Woo Woos” at her grandchildren’s sporting events. And she will be missed at OU football tailgate parties where she socialized with friends and family. Queenie loved all parties and never wanted the fun to end. Holidays and birthdays were anticipated with youthful exuberance all of her life and she challenges us all to rejoice in God’s blessings, and to make great effort to have a “Happy Life”.

Phyllis is survived by her husband Gene; daughter LeAnn and husband Paul Lienhard; son Lane and wife Kay Wheeler; and daughter Jayne Clarke, all of Oklahoma City. She will be deeply missed by her seven grandchildren who were all with her until her last moments on earth: Alexa and Will Lienhard; Audrey and Adam Wheeler; and Quin, Maddie and Jake Clarke. Her sister Pat Barnes of Cordell, and her brother and sister-in-law, Carla and Nelson Pickrell, of Oklahoma City, also survive her. Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, Xea Fern and Paul Pickrell, and beloved Aunt Bess McCullough. Queenie inspired her family and will be deeply missed, but her passion for living will burn brightly through all the lives she touched. As she recently informed her family, “I will miss you when I’m gone, but I think I will miss ME most of all!”

A celebration of Phyllis’s life will be held at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, Tuesday, July 26 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Phyllis Wheeler Memorial Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, PO Box 1146, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1146.

Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.