She was born August 28, 1939, to Samuel Hill Bysor and Mary Catherine (King) Bysor as their 6th child. Nellie lived her entire life in Henry County, spending time in LaDue, Urich, and Clinton.
Nellie married Robert Eugene Wheeler Sr. in Clinton on February 22, 1958. Bob and Nellie had 2 children, Robert Eugene “Gene” Wheeler Jr. and Debby Jo (Wheeler) Van Winkle.
She was a Homemaker and a stay-at-home mom to their children until their youngest, Debby, started school. In 1966, she started her job as a cook at the Urich Elementary School and Sherwood Schools and worked there for over 20 years. She later worked at Rival Manufacturing until retirement.
Once she retired, she started her new role, which included being ‘Grandma of the Year.’ She won this award over 40 years in a row, according to her granddaughters, Miranda and Bethany. She would be their chauffeur to and from sports practices and school, taking them food before they left for games and anything else they could ever need. She loved going on field trips, making play dough for Bethany’s school class, or stopping in to see Miranda while she was working. She loved this new position so much that she and Bob moved from Urich to Clinton to be closer to her beloved granddaughters. All of her granddaughters' friends loved to be around "Grandma Nellie" as she was one of a kind that would do anything for anyone.
While she loved spending time with her kids and grandkids, nothing brought her as much joy as her great-grandchildren. She always had something special for them, never missed any of their events, and loved their hugs and kisses more than anything.
Nellie was hilarious, telling silly jokes and endlessly teasing her son-in-law, Ron. Bob and Nellie loved to stop into Blue Ribbon Bakery to chat and drink coffee with the ‘coffee drinkers’ and show them photos of her grandkids and great-grandkids. She also truly enjoyed helping out at Vansant Mills Funeral Home, as they were always so sweet to her and treated her like part of their family.
Nellie had a true skill and love for crafting, gardening, quilting, and cooking. If you ever had one of her hot rolls, noodles, or anything else that she made, you know how great of a cook and baker she was. She loved sharing this passion with others by baking them a pie, decorating a cake for a special event, or creating something special when thinking of someone. After her stroke in 2017, she fought so hard to be able to still do the things that she loved to do, and we are so grateful for our time with her. Thankfully, she passed her skill in cooking to her daughter, Debby.
She loved going to tractor pulls with Bob, watching hummingbirds outside her window, watching the Royals and Chiefs on TV, and playing cards. She also loved visiting her son Gene and daughter-in-law Lorri and seeing the progress of their garden. Nellie also loved to go fishing and hunt for mushrooms.
She will be missed more than words can express, but she set an incredible example of how to be the absolute best wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will truly live on forever by all of those who knew her.
Her parents and siblings preceded her in death - Harold King, Samuel Bysor, Nancy Kerwood, Robert Bysor, John Bysor, and Joe Pete Bysor.
Surviving are her husband of over 65 years, Bob Wheeler; her son Robert Eugene Wheeler Jr and his wife Lorri of Columbia, MO; her daughter Debby Jo (Wheeler) Van Winkle, and her husband, Ron of Clinton, MO; her granddaughters Miranda (Van Winkle) Day and her husband Anthony, Bethany (Van Winkle) Ross and her husband Tayler, Great Grandsons Kingston and Kai Day, Great Granddaughters Vandy and Molina Ross all of Clinton, her sister Rosemary Hunter (Russell) of Clinton. Nellie also had an extra special nephew, Randy Bysor (Becky), whom she considered her own and loved dearly. She also had many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other loved ones.
The family wants to thank Three Rivers Hospice, especially Vince Ninemire and Clinton Healthcare and Rehab, for their exceptional care of Nellie.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.
