Genevieve Ileta Wheeler

Genevieve Ileta Hunter Wheeler was the daughter of Harry Hunter Sr. and Hildred Roberts Hunter. Born on August 30, 1926, she worked on her family's farm, at the box factory in Des Moines, as a baby sitter for many children, and crocheted afghans. Ms. Wheeler lived her young life out in the Runnels area on a small farm with her father, mother and eight siblings – Robert Hunter (deceased), Harry Hunter Jr., Francis Waterman, Hazel Jeanette Maddison (deceased), Shirley Bos (deceased), Patricia Daniels (deceased), Florence Cooper, and Harvey "Gene" Hunter Jr.

Ms. Wheeler attended and graduated from East High School in 1944 while working for a family to make money for her and her family. She met her husband Arno Wheeler because she and her parents lived across the road from them. They were married in 1945. While living in Des Moines, she was an active member of Grant Park Christian Church. She and her husband Arno Wheeler had one daughter, Elaine Wheeler Townsley. She lived her last years in a nursing home in Searcy, AR. Her favorite color was blue and she had almost everything in her home and her room in the nursing home decorated in multiple shades of blue.

Ms. Wheeler is survived by her daughter, Elaine Wheeler Townsley and husband, James Townsley of Searcy, Arkansas. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Toni St. John Raymond and husband, Steven Raymond of Trumann, AR; Ricky St. John and wife, Lillian St. John of Heber Springs, AR; Tina St. John Stigall and husband, Joshua Stigall of Cave City, AR ; and Tracy St. John Fortner and husband, Joshua Fortner. Her great-grandchildren are: Colton Wolverton and wife, Brittany of Searcy, AR; Olivia Moss of Trumann, AR; Paige Raymond of Trumann, AR; James Wood of Evening Shade. AR; Elizabeth St. John of North Little Rock, AR; Joshua Riley Williams of Cave City, AR; Madison Wagster of Cave City, AR; Madison Stigall of Cave City, AR; Bailey Jo Stigall of Cave City, AR; Shelby Burns of Batesville, AR; Austin Burns of Cave City, AR; Abby Fortner of Searcy, AR; Allysa Fortner of Searcy, AR; and Abbigail Fortner of Beebe, AR. Her great-great-grandchildren are: Bleyden Williams of Cave City, AR; Easton Burns of Batesville, AR; and Grayson Wolverson of Searcy, AR.

Preceded her in death are her parents, Harry Hunter Sr. and Hildred Hunter; husband, Arno Woodrow Wheeler; brother, Robert Hunter; sisters, Hazel Janette Maddison, Shirley Bos and Patricia Daniels; great-grandson, Zachery Edward Williams; and great-great-grandson, Liam Wolverton.

There will be a graveside committal service at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 25, 2017, at Rising Sun Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to the family in Genevieve’s honor.

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