Evelyn Houston Wheatley, a woman of deep faith and devotion to her family, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2026, at Viva Senior Living in Fayetteville, TN, at the age of 99½.
Born in Trumann, Arkansas, to Osa and Eva Houston, Evelyn spent nearly a century building a legacy of kindness. A devout Christian, she was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kennett, MO. She found great joy in the simple pleasures of life, most notably sewing for her loved ones and sharing her love through her cooking.
She is survived by her son, Al (Kay) Wheatley of Taft, TN; her grandchildren, Alex (Tina) Wheatley and Ben (Jane) Wheatley; her great-grandchildren, Cyrus, Sloane, Anna, and Graham Wheatley; and numerous nieces and nephews. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Archer Wheatley; her son, Donald Wheatley; and seven siblings.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Kennett, MO, with Pastor Terryl Almond officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 105 W. Washington St., Kennett, MO 63857.
Higgins Funeral Home of Fayetteville and McDaniel Funeral Home of Kennett is honored to be serving the Wheatley family.
What a sweet lady was Evelyn! I so enjoyed getting to know her when I was employed at Southern Manor (Viva) . Indeed, she was one of the “Golden Girls” and I delighted in the comraderie that they had together. My love and blessings to her family at this time of bereavement.