Gertie Mae Wheatley

Gertie Mae Wheatley left her earthly home to join the love of her life in Heaven on Thursday, December 23, 2021 surrounded by family.
Gertie was born Sept 23, 1930 in Mehan, Oklahoma to Harold and Bessie (Redfern) Courtright. She was the oldest of 6 kids. She attended school at Glencoe and graduated high school at Eureka Schools in 1948. Gertie was proud of the fact that she got to attend A&M College which is now OSU. She studied Home Economics and that became her journey. She met and married the love of her life Sonny Wheatley Aug 18, 1950. They had four kids and built their home in Lucien Oklahoma where they spent their lives.
Gertie had many joys. Square dancing, sewing, baking. But her greatest joys were her grandkids, great grands, and her great great grands. She was the best Grandma. Many summers were spent at the lake camping, cookouts in the backyard, playing Wahoo and sitting on the ice cream machine. Her grands always knew that her love for them ran deep and was unfaltering. After the death of Sonny, Gertie began traveling. She saw places she had only dreamed about. Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Alaska and numerous cruises left her with cherished memories. When not on an adventure, she spent her days volunteering at the hospital or keeping up with her great grands. She was proud of them all and her vast newspaper collection of their accomplishments filled many drawers. No one ever mastered her art of tea ring or peanut brittle making even though we all have tried. She will be so missed by the many lives she touched thru the years.
Gertie was preceded in death by her husband, Sonny “OL” Wheatley; brothers, Bill Courtright, Ralph Courtright; Great-Granddaughter, Sierra Mills; parents, Harold and Bessie Courtright; and son-in-law, John Horstman.
Survivors include her children, Sandy Horstman, Steve Wheatley, Scott (Rena) Wheatley, and Shelley Bay; Grandchildren, Alicia, Alana, Allison, Brian, Chad, Chase, Joey, Kelley, Jennifer, Brandi, Jason, and Brooke; 27 of the greatest grands and 10 of the greatest greatest grands with another due in Aug 2022. She is also survived by siblings, Dean (Sharon) Courtright, Darlene (James) Kuhn, Nina (Frank) Eyl, and sister-in-law, Geneva Briegge. Gertie’s heart was full with the many people that loved her and cared for her at the end. A special thank you to the staff at Green Valley in Perry and Companion Hospice for their care and assist.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from noon until 8PM at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home of Perry. Family will greet guests from 5PM to 7PM. A celebration of Gertie’s life will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 1PM at Lucien United Methodist Church in Lucien, Oklahoma with Don Knott officiating. Interment will follow at McGuire Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joey Day, Kelley Wheatley, Chad Wheatley, Brian Wheatley, Jason Wise, Aaron Dale, Adam Dale, Chase Wheatley.
Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.dightonmarler.com