Obituary of Joe Ann Wheeler
Joe Ann Barney was born on July 23, 1944, to her parents Floyd Hyrum Barney and Leora Simmons Barney, in Coleville, Utah. In her childhood, she meandered with her family in Idaho and Utah, until settling in Orange County California in the mid 1950’s where her father worked in construction and her mother worked as a seamstress. There she met her husband James Arthur Wheeler while attending college. They were married on March 20, 1965. After the birth of their first daughter, they moved to Sonoma, California where they both found work as Psychiatric Technicians at the Sonoma Developmental Center, with Joe Ann moving into the role of Developmental Specialist at the time of her retirement. The next 41 years of their lives were spent in Sonoma. Joe Ann worked hard providing money to support the family, raising and caring for her children, while overcoming challenges, and providing service and leadership in her church. Joe Ann’s efforts and prayers were answered when she and James entered the Oakland Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and were sealed together as husband and wife for time and all eternity on June 7, 1988. After this achievement, she continued her work and church service while supporting her children in their various activities and expanding her friendships within her local ward (congregation).
With children grown and relocated to Idaho, Joe Ann and James moved to Hagerman, Idaho in 2002, to expand family support to their grandchildren. Joe Ann supported her new ward with her talents and attended every event at which her grandchildren were involved. She even went out of her way to continue supporting her son’s musical efforts by attending school concerts that he produced. After her husband’s death in 2011, Joe Ann continued to support her family by providing a home for adult children and grandchildren who needed it.
Joe Ann moved to Bainville, Montana in the summer of 2019 so she could watch the next group of grandchildren grow-up. During her brief time in Bainville, she supported her grandchildren in their sports, music, and co-curricular activities. She became actively involved with the senior citizens center and quickly moved her way into the hearts of the community. Joe Ann loved playing in her garden and is known for her canning and food preservation. She blossomed in her scrapbooking and stamping birthday and holiday cards. Joe Ann spent much of her life working in genealogy to preserve family history.
Joe Ann Barney Wheeler passed away in Norristown Pennsylvania on June 12, 2025, while seeking treatment for recently diagnosed cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her eldest daughter Cherie Ann Wheeler Churchill Oulman. Joe Ann is survived by her sister Lucille Barney Jones, her brother Lee Alva Barney, her remaining three children Amber Margaret, Marie Wheeler Arterburn Kercher (Kyle), David Glen Wheeler (Rayelle), and Dawn Eileen Wheeler Bauman (Jon). Joe Ann was blessed and greatly enjoyed her 11 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. Foremost, Joe Ann was an ardent believer that her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were top priority, followed by unwavering unconditional love for her family. All church and work obligations came after that. Joe Ann was small in stature, but her heart and love filled the universe. With simple words, she brought positivity and joy into the lives of others. Joe Ann will be missed here. Now, she is reunited with family and friends on the other side of the veil.