Jonette McKee Wheeler

Jonette McKee Wheeler, 59, returned to her loving Heavenly Father on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born July 1, 1952, in Fillmore, Utah, to Thora Irene Swallow and Chad A. McKee, the oldest of three children.
Jonette grew up in Holden, Utah, and graduated from Millard High School where she was active in debate and drill team. She also worked at a truck stop in Fillmore where she developed her fabulous cooking skills. She then attended Utah State University earning a degree in speech while working in the library. During her time at the university she met and married Regan Wheeler on August 11, 1973, in the Manti LDS Temple. Together, they built a farm home in Lewiston, Utah, where they raised their family of four boys.
Jonette worked at Lewiston Elementary School in Cache County School District for 26 years as the media technology specialist. She spread her avid love for reading through the school reading incentive program and the popular OREO Literacy Night where she dawned her Cat in the Hat costume.
She demonstrated her love for service by organizing the Christmas Food Drive for needy students in the community and helping with math in the classroom. At a district level, she was the coordinator for the Teacher Induction Program for Success (TIPS), assisted in the District Teacher Mentor Program, helped organize and carry out the Gifted and Talented Program, and facilitated the implementation of teacher standards. She was a lifelong member of the Cache Educators Association (CEA), Utah Educators Association (UEA), and the National Educators Association (NEA).
She spent 12 years in various leadership positions in the CEA working to improve the education profession. She was an active member of the Utah Educational Library Media Association. During her years of service, she received several honors. In 2006, Utah State University presented her with the Teacher as Community Builder Award and the UEA honored her with the William and Pat Child "Excellence in Teaching Award." But her most prized recognition was being known as the Social Queen (Party Mama) for her years of enthusiastically organizing staff parties.
In addition to her passion for education, Jonette loved spending time with her family, especially her six grandchildren. She could often be found covered in dirt enjoying her garden and flowerbeds. Music was an important part of her life, and she was always willing to play the piano or organ for any occasion. She also liked traveling and collecting mugs from her various destinations.
Jonette is survived by her husband, Regan Wheeler; her four sons and their families, Colby (Mindi Jackson, Jack and Gavin), Nicholas (Janell Franson, Landon, Allie, Colin and Liam), Curt (Kali Euteneier) and Brady (Stasha Jameson); her mother, Thora McKee; and her siblings, Randy McKee and Becky McKee. Jonette was preceded in death by her father, Chad McKee.
We are indebted to the medical staff at the University of Utah Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute for their wonderful care of Jonette and her family. They assisted her with her fight against Amyloidosis. To learn more about the disease visit http://www.bu.edu/amyloid/. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, https://donate.huntsmancancer.org.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 2, 2012, in the Lewiston 2nd Ward building, 10 S. 1600 West in Lewiston, Utah. There will be a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the same building and prior to the service at 9:30 a.m.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com.