OBITUARY

Name:    Stella May (Wheeler) Harper

From:  The Courier Press, Evansville, Indiana
Date:  Sunday, February 1, 2009

NORRIS CITY, Ill. — Stella May Harper, 92, of Broughton, passed away Saturday, January 31, 2009, at 5:35 a.m. at the United Methodist Village in Lawrenceville, Ill.

She was born April 2, 1916, to the late Christopher Columbus and Eliza (Allen) Wheeler and has been a resident of the Norris City area all her life. She married William Clarence Harper, in February 1934, who preceded her in death October 24, 1947.

Stella will be remembered for all her years of employment as manager of the Norris City School Cafeteria and several part-time jobs at area restaurants and noted for her hot rolls and chicken and dumplings. Stella was a member of the Shiloh Methodist Church.

Stella is survived by three daughters, Emily (John) Howard of Lawrenceville, Evalene Savage of Mt. Vernon, Ind., and friend J.D. Tyler of McLeansboro, Ill., and Judy (Norman) Schall of Melvin, Ill.; two sisters, Rosa Lee Pool and Ica (Eddie) Howard, all of Broughton; a sister-in-law, Mary Jane Wheeler; two brothers-in-law, Morris (Marian) West and Eugene (Kathern) Harper; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents, two granddaughters, two brothers, Clarence and Sherman Wheeler; six sisters-in-law, Ruth West, Pearl Dalton, Margaret Shelton, Laura Hunter, Gladys Harper and Virginia Harper; six brothers-in-law Ezra Pool, Dean Harper, Earl Harper, Byford Dalton, Pat Shelton and John Hunter; two infant sisters; and a son-in-law, Ed Savage.

The funeral services to celebrate the life of Stella May Harper will be held Monday, February 2, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Campbell Funeral Home in Norris City, with the Rev. C. Ernest Essary officiating. She will be buried at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Norris City. Visitation for friends and family will be today, February 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. and one hour before service on Monday.

A special thanks to the United Methodist Village in Lawrenceville for her special care from the staff. Memorials may be made to Shiloh Methodist Church or to a charity of the donor's choice.