1927
Clarence
2012
Clarence Elmer "C.E." Wheeler
October 11, 1927 — July 14, 2012
Clarence Wheeler “Chis Chilly Yazzie”
Farmington, NM
Clarence Elmer “C.E.” Wheeler, 84, of Farmington NM, returned home to his Father in Heaven, Saturday July 14, 2012, surrounded by family and friends in Monroe, Utah. Clarence was born October 11, 1927 in Red Mesa, Colorado to Elmer and Lucy Lee Ledford Wheeler. He grew up in Waterflow, New Mexico, where he graduated from Kirtland High in 1946. He married his high school sweetheart, Celia McGee, December 17, 1946 for time and all eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Clarence began his life long career of owning and running trading posts on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. He started at Smith Lake in 1947 and shortly thereafter went to Na-ah-tah, Keams Canyon, Polacca and Pinon trading posts. In 1961 he bought Upper Greasewood Trading Post and in 1976 Round Rock Trading Post. Clarence was fluent in Hopi, Navajo, and Tawah. He loved and served the Navajo and Hopi people for most of his life, and will forever be known as “Chis chilly yazzie”
Clarence was a life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served faithfully in many church positions, two of which were Branch President of the Polacca branch for the Hopi Saints, and he later served in the Sunday school presidency for the South West Indian Mission.
Clarence had a great love of sports, where he enjoyed assisting Farmington High and Piedra Vista High football programs. Notably he was the man on the side lines waving the white towel.
Clarence is survived by his “sweetheart” Celia of 65 years, and his children, Sheila (Stewart) Smith, Snowflake AZ; Kathleen (Delbert) Lloyd, Aurora ,UT; Lamar Wheeler, Showlow, AZ; Gene (Judy) Wheeler, Ephraim, UT; Joe (Debbie) Wheeler, Farmington, NM; and Kristee Lee Wheeler, Aurora, UT; 21 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Ila Ruth Larson, Seattle, WA.
Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Joe and Ralph “Hoppy” Wheeler.
Clarence was one of a kind, a great dad, gramps, and “friend”, to all.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 12:00 Noon in the Aurora 1st Ward Chapel, 85 North Main. Friends may call Friday evening from 7-8 p.m. at the Magleby Mortuary, 50 S 100 W, and Saturday at the ward chapel in Aurora from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.
Farmington, NM
Clarence Elmer “C.E.” Wheeler, 84, of Farmington NM, returned home to his Father in Heaven, Saturday July 14, 2012, surrounded by family and friends in Monroe, Utah. Clarence was born October 11, 1927 in Red Mesa, Colorado to Elmer and Lucy Lee Ledford Wheeler. He grew up in Waterflow, New Mexico, where he graduated from Kirtland High in 1946. He married his high school sweetheart, Celia McGee, December 17, 1946 for time and all eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Clarence began his life long career of owning and running trading posts on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. He started at Smith Lake in 1947 and shortly thereafter went to Na-ah-tah, Keams Canyon, Polacca and Pinon trading posts. In 1961 he bought Upper Greasewood Trading Post and in 1976 Round Rock Trading Post. Clarence was fluent in Hopi, Navajo, and Tawah. He loved and served the Navajo and Hopi people for most of his life, and will forever be known as “Chis chilly yazzie”
Clarence was a life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served faithfully in many church positions, two of which were Branch President of the Polacca branch for the Hopi Saints, and he later served in the Sunday school presidency for the South West Indian Mission.
Clarence had a great love of sports, where he enjoyed assisting Farmington High and Piedra Vista High football programs. Notably he was the man on the side lines waving the white towel.
Clarence is survived by his “sweetheart” Celia of 65 years, and his children, Sheila (Stewart) Smith, Snowflake AZ; Kathleen (Delbert) Lloyd, Aurora ,UT; Lamar Wheeler, Showlow, AZ; Gene (Judy) Wheeler, Ephraim, UT; Joe (Debbie) Wheeler, Farmington, NM; and Kristee Lee Wheeler, Aurora, UT; 21 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Ila Ruth Larson, Seattle, WA.
Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Joe and Ralph “Hoppy” Wheeler.
Clarence was one of a kind, a great dad, gramps, and “friend”, to all.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 12:00 Noon in the Aurora 1st Ward Chapel, 85 North Main. Friends may call Friday evening from 7-8 p.m. at the Magleby Mortuary, 50 S 100 W, and Saturday at the ward chapel in Aurora from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.
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