Gertie
Mae Wheatley left her earthly home to join the
love of her life in Heaven on Thursday, December
23, 2021, surrounded by family.
Gertie
was born Sept 23, 1930, in Mehan, Oklahoma, to
Harold and Bessie (Redfern) Courtright. She was
the oldest of 6 kids.
She attended school at Glencoe and graduated
high school at Eureka Schools in 1948. Gertie
was proud of the fact that she got to attend A&M
College, which is now OSU. She studied Home
Economics and that became her journey.
She
met and married the love of her life Sonny
Wheatley Aug 18, 1950. They had four kids and
built their home in Lucien, Oklahoma, where they
spent their lives.
Gertie
had many joys, square dancing, sewing, baking,
but her greatest joys were her grandkids,
great-grands, and her great-great-grands. She
was the best Grandma. Many summers were spent at
the lake camping, cookouts in the backyard,
playing Wahoo and sitting on the ice cream
machine. Her grands always knew that her love
for them ran deep and was unfaltering.
After
the death of Sonny, Gertie began traveling. She
saw places she had only dreamed about.
Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Alaska and
numerous cruises left her with cherished
memories. When not on an adventure, she spent
her days volunteering at the hospital or keeping
up with her great-grands. She was proud of them
all, and her vast newspaper collection of their
accomplishments filled many drawers. No one ever
mastered her art of tea ring or peanut
brittle-making, even though we all have tried.
She will be so missed by the many lives she
touched through the years.
Gertie
was preceded in death by her husband, Sonny "OL"
Wheatley; brothers, Bill Courtright, Ralph
Courtright; Great-Granddaughter, Sierra Mills;
parents, Harold and Bessie Courtright; and
son-in-law, John Horstman.
Survivors include her children, Sandy Horstman,
Steve Wheatley, Scott (Rena) Wheatley, and
Shelley Bay; Grandchildren, Alicia, Alana,
Allison, Brian, Chad, Chase, Joey, Kelley,
Jennifer, Brandi, Jason, and Brooke; 27 of the
greatest-grands and 10 of the greatest-greatest-grands
with another due in Aug 2022. She is also
survived by siblings, Dean (Sharon) Courtright,
Darlene (James) Kuhn, Nina (Frank) Eyl, and
sister-in-law, Geneva Briegge.
Gertie's heart was full with the many people who
loved her and cared for her at the end. A
special thank you to the staff at Green Valley
in Perry and Companion Hospice for their care
and assist.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December
29, 2021, from noon until 8 p.m. at Dighton-Marler
Funeral Home of Perry.
Family will greet guests
from 5-7 p.m.
A celebration of Gertie's life
will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at
1 p.m. at Lucien United Methodist Church in
Lucien, Oklahoma, with Don Knott officiating.
Interment will follow at McGuire Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Joey Day, Kelley Wheatley,
Chad Wheatley, Brian Wheatley, Jason Wise, Jaron
Dale, Adam Dale, Chase Wheatley.
Condolences may be sent to the family via an
online guestbook at www.dightonmarler.com.
