Patricia Hawkes Wheeler (Pat) was born on July 8th, 1945, in Preston, Idaho to Leo and Roma Hawkes. Pat is the fourth child with three older brothers. While growing up in Preston, Pat enjoyed going camping in the nearby canyons with her family and loved the dutch-oven steaks her father would cook outdoors at home.
Pat graduated from Preston High School in 1963. In high school, she was the yearbook editor and was an Indianette. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1967 from Brigham Young University, where she was one of the top students in her nursing program and a member of the drill team at Brigham Young University – the BYU Cougarettes.
Pat became a Registered Nurse and had an active license until the time of her passing. Pat had many hobbies that she greatly enjoyed.
She was an avid reader, most often studying her scriptures and books about the scriptures, but she enjoyed almost any book from historical fiction to suspense.
When her children were in their school years, she was very involved in their schooling and extracurricular activities. She chaperoned her daughter’s dance trips to New York, Canada, and Australia. She was often found in the bleachers watching her sons’ water polo games, swim meets, wrestling matches, baseball games, and soccer matches. It was joked that she owned “Pat’s Taxi Service” due to how often she shuttled her children from activity to activity.
Before Multiple Sclerosis limited her abilities, she also played the piano, loved to dance, and was a good cook.
During her years raising her family, she enjoyed traveling from California to Idaho in the summers with her family.
Whenever she did, she HAD to get some of her favorite candy, which she was usually able to find in Idaho…Cherry-A-Lets.
She loved going to the movies and listening to music. She often listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Her all-time favorite show was “Jeopardy”. She watched it religiously.
She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served dutifully in various volunteer positions including Stake Primary President, Relief Society President, and Young Women President of her ward (congregation), and various other presidency and teaching roles. Pat was also involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America with her sons. She served as Scout Committee Chair for fifteen years. All four of her sons received the rank of Eagle Scout with her help and guidance.
Pat was married to Dr. Ronald Dee Wheeler from 1967 to 1998. Together they had five children, and eleven grandchildren.
On October 8th, 2015, Pat entered into eternal rest in Frisco, Texas.
Pat will always be remembered for being kind, patient, conscientious, and loyal.
Pat is preceded in death by her parents, Roma Luthy Hawkes and Leo Rogers Hawkes; and her brother Philip Eugene Hawkes. Pat is survived by her sons, Cameron Reed Wheeler, and wife Anise Tatiana Wheeler, of Stockton, CA, Ryan Scott Wheeler of Odgen, UT, Darin Paul Wheeler, and wife Adelina Marisol Wheeler, of Clovis, NM, and Brandon Lavell Wheeler, and wife Brittany Suzanne Wheeler, of Phoenix, AZ; Daughter, Kristan Lyn Miller, and husband Darren Jameson, of Frisco, TX; Grandchildren, Dimitri, Cole, Kayla, Braden, Ethan, Jake, Joaquin, Ty, Esteban, Hazel, and Bennett; and Brothers, N. Roger Hawkes, and wife Karen Hawkes, of West Jordan, UT and J. Robert Hawkes, and wife Brenda Hawkes, of Logan, UT.
Pat will be laid to rest in Logan, UT, near her parents. A memorial service will be held here in Turlock at 6pm, Friday, October 30, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4250 Geer Road (south
building).
