Vivian Irene Wheat, daughter of the late Harry Virgil and Sylvia May (Dobbs) Clark, was born Jan., 12, 1917, in Buckhart, Mo., and departed this life on May 9, 2005, in the Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mtn. Grove, following a long illness. She was 88.
Vivian grew up and attended school in the Buckhart community and was united in marriage to Lawrence Wheat on July 13, 1933. Three children were born to this union. They made their home and raised their family on a farm in the Vanzant area in Douglas County where they lived all of their lives. They also owned and operated the Wheat’s Western Store for over 20 years. Mr. Wheat passed away on March 27, 2004.
Vivian enjoyed sewing, crocheting, singing and tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She loved taking care of her family and cooking for them. She had a great sense of humor which she never lost, no matter how she felt.
Vivian was saved at a young age and attended the Victory Church in Douglas County. Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her step-mother, Mary; one son, Ralph Wheat; one brother, Glenn Clark; four sisters, Nellie DeSpain, Pauline Scherer, Maxine Tooley and Leona Clark.
She is survived by one son, William “Pat” Wheat and his wife, Sherry, of Vanzant; one daughter, Sylvia Hicks and her husband, Tom, of Mtn. Grove; one daughter-in-law, Joyce Wheat, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, Orbin Clark, of Ozark; three sisters, Daisy Cordoza, Manteca, Calif., Violet Williams, Houston, Texas, and Sue Childers, of Springfield; seven grandchildren, Susan, Melissa, Tommy, LeAnn, Rosanna, Josiah and Beverly; one great-granddaughter, Abigail Rose; several nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 11, at 10 a.m. in the Craig-Hurtt-Bradley Chapel, Mtn. Grove, with the Revs. J.D. Williams and Gail “Bud” Scherer officiating. Burial was in the Tetrick Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt-Bradley Funeral Home.
