Lois Wheeler

Lois Kay Wheeler, 89, of Sherwood, Arkansas, passed away on October 16, 2026, in Converse, Texas.

Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, to Myron "Happy" Lea Reichgerdt and Laverne Lively Reichgerdt, Lois spent her childhood developing a deep love for music, with a specific passion for musical theater. It was also during her youth that she learned her steadfast devotion to family, developed her lifelong faith in God, and began singing in church. Following her high school graduation, she went on to graduate from Miss Hickey's School for Secretaries in Saint Louis. While still in Saint Louis, she met the love of her life and future husband, Bob Wheeler. Lois and Bob later moved to Anaheim, California, where her two sons, Scot and Rob, were born. The family then moved back to Saint Louis for several years, a time during which Lois patiently endured many camping trips with her family. While back in Saint Louis, she continued her dedicated faith journey by singing in church and teaching Sunday school. They then relocated to Monroe, Louisiana, where Lois was a devoted wife and mother, working as a secretary and raising her boys. She blended her focus on family and faith with community action; she was highly active in her church, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, volunteered at her sons' school, and hosted 4H meetings.

Following her time in Louisiana, she moved to Sherwood, Arkansas, building her life, routines, and community ties. While in Sherwood, she and her husband, Bob, were very active at their church, where she formed many close friendships and lifelong bonds. After retiring from secretarial work in Sherwood, she turned her eye for detail into a decades-long antiquing business, where she built close community ties and made many great friends in the antiquing world. Her final days were spent in Texas under dedicated family care.

Throughout her life, Lois was defined by her strong work ethic and willingness to help others; she was always willing to chip in and help whenever needed, never hesitating to lend her time or effort to a task. 

She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Scot and Judy Wheeler, and Rob and Michelle Wheeler; her two grandchildren and their spouses, Emily and Mike Wright, and Ben Wheeler; and her nieces and nephews, Cheryl Hinch Tenbrook, Susan Karchefski, David Lay, Karen Harris, and Jesse Harris. They will all carry forward her dependable legacy.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bob Wheeler; her parents, Myron and Laverne Reichgerdt; and her two sisters, Joyce Lee Hinch and Kathy Reichgerdt.

A funeral service for Lois will be held on November 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Smith Sherwood Funeral Home (7700 Hwy 107, Sherwood, AR).