Washington Utah – On March 20, 2025, one of the greatest daughters of our Father in Heaven passed away of causes incident to age at 97 in her home in Washington, Utah. Mary Virginia Buehler Wheeler was born to Charles E. Buehler and Zelma Shaw Buehler on 2 December 1927 in Heber City, Utah. Mary was the fourth of eleven children, three boys and eight girls.

Her early years were spent on the Buehler Farm in Midway, Utah helping with farm chores and occasional fun times playing in and about the Provo River that bordered their farm. Her mother often kept her in the house to help with the housework because she was very clean and conscientious about household inside chores, letting her sisters do the farm work with her dad. She maintained these attributes throughout her life as her home was always immaculate. She attended Midway Elementary and then Wasatch High School. It was at this time she was active in the Mormon Church with the rest of her family.

It was during this time she met Jerry Rickards. They started dating and eventually got married. They took their 3-year-old son, Joe and 2-week-old daughter Jill to work in Bristol Sliver mines in 1946. They worked there for a time then moved on to Tim Piute. The mines in the area were the biggest producers of silver in the world in the 1920's. By this time Shelia and Kenneth have been added to their family bringing the total number of children to 4. In Tim Piute, Mary also started her first job waiting tables then fixing lunches for the miners. Jack Buehler and others were there so it was a hand full of people many related to each other. They all had great adventures in the deserts of Neveda. It was an "Out West" environment that contributed to her family in unimaginable ways as far as endurance, character, building and strength.

Mary moved to Kearns, Utah in 1957 and took a job with Arthur Murray Dance studio first as a receptionist then as a Dance Analyst. She also had her fifth child, Susan Jane, during this period. In 1960 her first marriage to Jerry Richards came to an end.

The Arthur Murray crowd usually on Friday night after work went dancing as a group to the Latin Quarter where live music was played. Mary almost never went with them due to her responsibilities at home but on Friday in August 1960 she went, where she met a young university student named Dale Wheeler. They dated and then were married in May 1961, and have been together for 64+ years. During this period of time, she bore her sixth child Todd Jason.

Dale was a Mechanical Engineer for Hercules Aerospace then made a job change from Utah to Redlands California where he was employed by Lockheed Missile and Space Company. There they both decided to reactivate themselves in the LDS Church. They both held several positions in the LDS 2nd Ward and Mary was called to be Relief Society President. Another job change brought them back to the Salt Lake/Provo area in 1976 to be employed by then Alliant Tech System (bought out Hercules). They built a home in Highland and established residence there in September 1977. At this point Mary decided to study and obtain a realtor's license and sell real estate in the area. She obtained her license and activated it in 1977. Her communication and selling skills were top notch and within a few years she was elected to the Board of Directors for all Utah County Realtors. By 1987 she was elected to President of the Utah County Board of Realtors. She was also becoming very financially successful, exceeding 100K in earnings many years in a row.

The quality that made Mary very successful is that you could meet Mary for the first time and within a short period you felt you had known her most of your life and she was one of your best friends. Mary was a confirmed optimist and always brightened the attitude and the conversation in the room she entered. She maintained this ability throughout her life. At this time, she joined the Provo / Orem Chamber of Commerce to help her in her real estate business. Within 2 years she was elected to the Board of Directors then in 1990 was elected to be the Chairman of the board. She was the first woman ever elected to that position.

After working in real estate for a period after all this she retired at the age of 80. To say she had been successful at her business would be grossly under stating both her potential and the reality of the success that followed her everywhere.

Also, during this period she and Dale worked for 7 years as ordinance workers in first the Provo Temple, and then the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. During this period Mary and Dale traveled extensively. They traveled to Alaska, Europe, China, Central America, South America, close to both the North and South poles, Hawaii, and some of the locations in the US numerous times.

Mary also became proficient at snow skiing, and golf, and was an active gardener on their farm/fruit orchard. She was also an accomplished cook and chef.

In her family life that pattern of success was also very apparent. Mary personified the spirit of unconditional love which helped her greatly in all her personal associations both in business and with family. All her family loved her and enjoyed being around her. Mary projected a warmth and charismatic spirit that was unmatched everywhere she went. Friends and family flocked to her like bees to honey. Her positive spirit was like a beam of light in the room she entered. The conversation always became more positive, the attitudes more uplifting, more friendship and love were freely expressed when she was there. She had a way of filling the air with more positive friendship and love just with her basic positive attitude toward life, her family and all those around her. Many extensive family parties were held at their Highland residence where many great experiences will be remembered for years to come. It seemed every major Christmas get together was held at the Wheeler residence for going on 40 years. But time caught up with Mary and Dale. They spent 44 years at their Highland home but had to sell the property due to the workload required to maintain the property.

They had purchased the Washington, Utah property in 1993 since it was a perfect retirement home, no stairs, all on one level with total yard care, and on the Green Springs Golf Course. They used the property for many years as snowbirds then became permanent residents in October 2021.

Mary was preceded in death by three of her children: Joseph M. Rickards, Sheila Rickards, Kenneth J. Rickards; an infant granddaughter, Sariah Jane Wheeler; a grandson, Aaron Stark; sisters: Janet Richardson and Marjory Mahoney; and brothers: Dean Beuhler, Max Beuhler and Kent Beuhler. She is survived by her husband, Dale A. Wheeler; children: Mary Jill Zeller, Susan Jane Fereday and Todd Jason Wheeler; along with 16 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Mary will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. in the Highland 25th Ward Chapel, 5848 West 11000 North, Highland, Utah. A viewing will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in Midway Cemetery, Midway, Utah.

Mary Wheeler Funeral Service Program