Terry Wheeler

Funeral Services for Terry Wheeler, 60, former Clinton community leader and businessman, will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, August 3, 2013 in Clinton's First Christian Church, officiated by Pat Peters. Burial will conclude in the Clinton Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Robert Terrell Wheeler was born July 11, 1953, in Stuttgart, Germany and passed away Monday, July 29, 2013, at his Clinton home. As an "Army brat" Terry lived in Ft. Sheridan, IL and Ft. Hood, TX before moving to Clinton in third grade. He graduated from Clinton High school in 1971. He continued his education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK where he graduated with a Hospital Administration Degree in 1976. He was married to Marcia Guthary on December 31, 1976, in Ardmore, OK. He made his home in Oklahoma City where he was employed with the University Hospital as well as selling insurance for Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company. He returned to Clinton in 1983 and joined the family business, Local Finance, which was established owned and operated by his grandfather and later his father Jack Wheeler. He became the third generation owner and manager. He then expanded with a second business, Community Credit. He sold the businesses and retired in 2010. Terry was very involved in the Choice Seminars, a life changing experience, where he learned his purpose in life and that was that he was a whole, strong and honest man, making a difference in the lives of others by being the best he could be one day at a time through his compassion, leadership and love. Terry was a member of the First Christian Church; he loved woodworking and had the ability to build or restore almost anything. He spent a lot of time on his motorcycle and enjoyed traveling and taking long trips on his bike. He enjoyed the outdoors, loved to work in his yard landscaping. Dogs and children were his passion. He was a past member of the Rotary Club and Clinton Chamber of Commerce; he was on the Clinton Public Library Board and was involved in its new construction. He served on the Clinton Public School Foundation, and he considered one of his major accomplishments the time that he served as a Clinton City Councilman from 2002 until 2011. He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Marcia, of the home, two daughters, Erin Wheeler, of Edmond, OK and Sarah Wheeler, of Yukon, OK; a brother, Joe Wheeler and his wife, Pat, of OKC, OK. He is also survived by his mother- in -law, Arline Guthary and a sister- in- law, Brenda Evans and her husband, Craig, all of Sapulpa, OK, and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind countless friends who knew his compassion and integrity. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the American Diabetes Association or the Clinton Public Library.