of Harrison, AR
November 30, 1942 - December 2, 2020
Jerry Lawrence Wheaton was born in western Kansas on November 30, 1942. Ever the businessman, at age 11, he had the largest paper route in Garden City. In high school, he sang in the Acapella choir and enjoyed tennis, bowling, and golf. He met and married Sharan Scott Wheaton while he was a freshman at Hutchinson Jr. College. He went on to attend and graduate from Kansas State Teacher's College. He started teaching at Simpson High School and later taught at North Central Kansas VoTech in Beloit. They had three children.
In 1975, they moved to Harrison where he began a long career teaching at North Arkansas College. He was a popular teacher whose students enjoyed his jokes and stories and always left the class not only learning the content but also knowing that he cared about them. During his teaching career, he inspired and encouraged a number of people who were blessed to sit in his classes.
After moving to Harrison, Jerry took a class on woodcarving, which led to a 34-year career in woodcarving at Silver Dollar City in Branson. While there, he entertained and inspired a number of new woodcarvers.
They attended the First Baptist Church where Jerry was a Sunday school teacher and a deacon. He was active in the community by serving as a Gideon and on the boards of the Special Services School and K-Life. He also enjoyed serving as a Little League coach and Boy Scout leader. Jerry loved meeting people and never met a stranger. He had a joke or a story for every occasion. He loved to sing and laugh. People who met him always left with a smile on their face. Jerry resided at Hillcrest Home for the last 8 years where he died on Wednesday, December 2, 2020.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Fern (Paxton) and Lawrence Wheaton. He is survived by two sisters, Carolyn Carlson and husband Lee and Shirley Holdeman and husband Dave; three children, Sandy Wheaton, Kathrine Duffus and husband Justin, and Larry Wheaton and wife Angela; four grandchildren, Nathaniel Duffus and wife Olivia, Linea Duffus, Kelli Duffus, and Katelyn Wheaton; and numerous cousins, friends, and former students.
The funeral service was held Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Harrison, with Bro. Rob Davis officiating.
Honorary pallbearers were Larry Hodnett, Larry Brandt, Charles Ezell, Ralph Guynn, Harlan Pollock, and Sam Alexander.
Interment was in Maple Leaf Cemetery.
Roller-Christeson Funeral Home is complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines for COVID-19 and limiting indoor funeral and visitation attendance. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks before entering.
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13 Condolence(s)
Arlene Kadel
Friday, May 21, 2021
Jerry and my husband Eldon Kadel taught together at the Voc-Tech school and Eldon passed away on October 23, 2019. We lost track of the family after they moved away from Beloit. He and Eldon were good friends and worked well together in the business dept. of the school. I just learned of Jerry's death from a booklet sent out by Emporia college where they both attended.
Debbie Goddard
Thursday, December 17, 2020
So sorry to hear of your loss. This picture of him is perfect...always smiling. I took a few classes from him at NAC. I was impressed with his friendliness and his ability to find common ground with the diversity of students in class. (I was one of those non-traditional students seeking a degree in my later years.) May the Lord lay a cloak of love and comfort over your family during this time of mourning. How comforting to know that he is resting in the arms of the Lord.
Janet McMullen
Saturday, December 5, 2020
The last few years have been difficult. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Tina McCain
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Praying for peace and comfort for you all. Sending love
Becky Hartman
Saturday, December 5, 2020
THE BEST TEACHER EVER! May he Rest In Peace eternally and may all family and friends be at peace. Mr. Wheaten was loved and respected by countless students. Our world is a better place because oh his example.
Jerry Corder
Friday, December 4, 2020
What a great man God gave us. A great teacher, a kind gentle soul with a great sense of humor. A Godly man who taught us in the Sunday school class, as well as outside the class. A man who was true And faithful to his wife and family, and true and faithful to God. A man I looked up to and admired. I’m sorry for your loss Wheaton family, but we all know without a doubt that Jerry is smiling and walking in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ! One day and very soon we will see him again, and we can join him in rejoicing in the glorious, wonderful presence of almighty God!
John Creager
Friday, December 4, 2020
Sorry to hear of Jerry's passing. I took several classes with him as teacher. God rest his soul.
Donna Judy
Friday, December 4, 2020
I’m so sorry for your loss. My prayers will be for you.
Emma King
Friday, December 4, 2020
Sharry, you and your family are in our prayers. Jerry is at rest now. Love you.
Keith Wilson
Friday, December 4, 2020
Mr. Wheaton, as a student of yours, I sincerely enjoyed your classes, humor and real life situations as an instructor. As a person, you were genuine, and your dedication to your craft was always evident. Rest in peace great servant. To your family, please know that our family`s thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of loss.
Roy B Ezell
Friday, December 4, 2020
To Sharry and family,
Heartfelt condolences in the passing of Jerry. I know he is in a much better and happier place now than he has been in for a long time. I have many happy memories of Jerry as a friend and colleague at the college. He was always encouraging to me in my work there as he was to everyone else, including students and other faculty. And Sharry was a wonderful assistant in working with our sudents in the Learning Lab over a period of 20 years. The humorous remarks Jerry always had during his visits to the lab were a huge relief for all the stress we seemed to be under while working with so many students. I also have many good memories of times I met with Jerry and Sharry at various restaurants around town before, after, or during work hours; also the many times the whole Learning Lab staff went to the Moores' house on a weekend to share a good meal and some fellowship.
I know this is a sad time for all of you, though probably not much worse than the last few years. Just remember all the happy times before that, for there really are a lot of good things to remember. My prayers are with you during the difficult days ahead.
Love,
Roy
Richard and Dorothy Hunt
Friday, December 4, 2020
Thinking of you at this time.
Judy Hartman Cothern
Friday, December 4, 2020
Wheaton family,
So sorry for this time of parting. Let memories of Jerry and his deep love for each of you give you smiles. My prayer is that these memories give you peace.
With love and prayer,
Judy Hartman Cothern