Mary Wheeler
1955 – 2024
Mary (Snyder) Wheeler, 69, of Edmond, Oklahoma, died on August 2, 2024.
Mary fought two rounds against breast cancer. The first was in 2004-2006. Unfortunately, the cancer returned for a second round in 2017, and after a brave and determined seven-year battle with the disease, she finally succumbed.
Mary was born on June 25, 1955 at U.S. Army Camp Zama in Yokohama, Japan, to Master Seargent Charles E. Snyder, Jr., and Arlene (Ryan) Snyder, both from Massachusetts.
Mary was raised in Springfield, Virginia where she graduated from Robert E. Lee High School (now John Lewis High School). She attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and in 1982 received her B.S. degree in Biology, with a concentration in microbiology. After additional schooling, Mary became a medical technologist, and after moving to Oklahoma, served many years as the assistant director of the clinical laboratory at what was then Edmond Hospital.
Continuing to follow her interests in the medical field, Mary trained and became a qualified paramedic, and worked at EMSTAT in Norman, Oklahoma. Later, after completing the Paramedic to Registered Nurse Bridge Program at Oklahoma City Community College, Mary became an RN and worked as an ICU nurse at Saint Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City.
While Mary was a skilled and compassionate medical professional, her primary devotion was to her family. She was a loving wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She found her greatest joy spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mary loved traveling to our spectacular national parks, national monuments, and national seashores. And, she was an avid puzzler. She loved animals and had a special place in her heart for stray, abandoned, or special needs pets.
Mary is survived by her husband Russell Wheeler; her daughters Michelle and Lysanne; three sisters: Jeanne, Lisa, and Anne; two brothers: Charles and Mark; three grandchildren: Bryaunna, Jonna, and Coleton; and two great grandchildren: Nash and Bonita (Bonnie).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the National Parks Foundation, or Misfits, Mutts & Meows Inc., a not-for-profit animal rescue in Crescent, Oklahoma.
Mary was a remarkable woman. So smart. So focused. So caring. Mary cared for my father and mother in their last years. I will always be so grateful for that. My wife Donna Henry Wheeler and I admired Mary so much for her honesty, strength, and humbleness. For years, Mary and I made spaghetti and meatballs for our families using my mother’s recipe. We promised each other that one day we would get together for a spaghetti cook off. Unfortunately, we didn’t. If we had, I’m pretty sure Mary would have won.
Mary was certainly one of those people who instantly became a true friend for life. The 30 years we’ve known her and Russell have been filled with memorable experiences. We’ve shared both good and bad times and through it all have always been there for one another. We love to travel to many of the places Mary held dear. Our trip to the Capulin Volcano and Sugarite Canyon was one of the most memorable experiences of all. Mary was and always will be a true friend and her memory will accompany us wherever we go.
I am blessed to have had Mary as my best friend for over 50 years. We met in high school and kept in touch through all those years. She was a very caring and giving person. One fond memory I have is when she came to visit me in the hospital. She brought me a book to read. The very same book I had brought. That’s true friendship. My husband, Barry also loved Mary too for all those years. Her memory is now a treasure.