Mabel N. Wheeler

ODESSA — Mabel N. Wheeler (Mam-ma), beloved mother and grandmother, went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004, at the blessed age of 90 while being lovingly cared for at the Hospice House of Odessa.
Mabel was a longtime resident of Odessa and a member of Temple Baptist Church. She was a past member of the Northside Senior Center Dance Club where she enjoyed country and western dancing into her 80s. She was a quiet lady with a sweet and loving spirit and kind and gentle ways. She was a hard worker, owning and independently operating a landscape service until her retirement in the mid-1980s. She was proudly independent.
Mabel always put others before herself, and she had an especially tender heart toward children and animals. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh.
She remained “young at heart,” (39, according to her) for many years!
She was born to Louis A. Witten and Myrtle Goddard Witten on November 8, 1913, in Mountain View, Oklahoma. She married Oscar E. Wheeler on July 29, 1939; they had one daughter, Gail, who was the pride and joy of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Alice Copeland and Della Bowerman, and her husband, Oscar Wheeler, who died in 1971.
She is survived by her daughter, Gail Gable Pool of Odessa; granddaughter, Tammy Hendricks and husband Steve of Odessa; grandson, Greg Gable and wife Shannon of Arlington; and her great-grandchildren, Tyler and Holly Hendricks, both of Odessa.
Mabel lived a life that seemed simple, but it was a life of significance and a great example of hard work, kindness, independence, selflessness and love.
We will miss her dearly on this earth, but we have great joy in knowing that she is now strong again and we will see her soon in Heaven.
Family will meet with friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
A graveside service will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Kyle Rodgers officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice House of Odessa or Temple Baptist Church.
Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.