Willeta Stanley

Willeta Bowen Wheeler Stanley was born November 9, 1910 in Cushing, Oklahoma, to Lester Gilbert Wheeler and Bonnie Omega Bowen Wheeler. She attended Cottey College for Women in Nevada, MO, Hills Business College, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and continuing education classes at ENMU Roswell. She worked for an attorney in Oklahoma City and the US Navy Procurement Office. She married Wyatt Stanley in 1938. During the 2nd World War, she worked at the Pantex Certinteed Bomb Plant in Amarillo, TX. After the war the family moved to the Stanley Farms in Dexter, NM.

Willeta went back to work for the Soil Conservation District and the U.S. Corp. of Engineers. She transferred to the U.S. Department of Labor and lived in Dallas and Austin. Upon retirement she returned to Roswell and worked at Ballard Funeral Home.

She is survived by 5 daughters and their families. Bonnie and Jim Grassie of Dexter, NM, Evelyn and Elliott McMaster of Datil, NM, Ellen and Craig Sheppard of Pinedale, WY, Cheryl Stanley of Alamogordo, and Jean and Mike Rising of Nutriose, AZ. She is survived by 8 grandchildren, Patricia Grassie Parsons of Dexter, Connie Grassie Harrell of Roswell, Ralph Shamas, Jr. of Roswell, Wyatt Sheppard of Pinedale, WY, Richard McMaster of Dexter, Leta McMaster Seward of Magdalena, NM, Ty Rising Foster of Safford, AZ, Jo Rising of Phoenix, AZ and a foster grandchild, Yvette Dunrand Crile and ten great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by on grandchild Dianne Grassie and one great grandchild Brad Harrell.

She was the organist for the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter, president of the Dexter PTA. She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church and of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and NARFE.

Willetas paternal family homesteaded in Cushing, Oklahoma when the territory first opened. Her maternal family was one of the founding families of Melrose, NM.

The family gives heart felt thanks to the Vista Care workers, especially Glenn, Stacey and Laura and the Mission Arch care givers.

A graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 13, 2007 at South Park Cemetery. Father Sylvester DCruz of Assumption Catholic Church will officiate.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry can be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com