Helen L. (Blair) Wheeler, 82, of Atchison, KS, died, Tuesday, Oct. 6th, 2015 at Atchison Senior Village Nursing Home.

Helen’s wishes were to be cremated. Graveside services and burial of cremated remains will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 10, 2015 at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Atchison Library and may be sent in care of the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home who is handling the arrangements. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.


Helen Louise Blair was born on October 24, 1932 in Atchison, Kansas, the eighth of nine children of William C. and Elsie Jane (Stickler) Blair. Both parents preceded her in death at a young age. Helen graduated from Atchison High School in 1950. After graduation she married her high school sweetheart, John ‘ Jack’ Coyle, a local pharmacist. They were blessed with 2 children, Mark and Patricia. One of the saddest day’s of Helen’s life was, September 30, 1993, when her son Mark Coyle, age 42, died of an heart attack. She was a homemaker and an active member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary, a volunteer at the Atchison Hospital Auxiliary, the Ranson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Ottawa, KS and for 10 years a volunteer at the House of Hope, Ottawa, KS. She was an avid reader and loved to go camping with her camping club, who were like a second family. She and her club camped for 21 years, with 16 of those years she and Frank along two other couples went south for the winter months.

She was married to John “Jack” Coyle , June 29, 1950; he preceded her in death after 17 years of marriage at the age of 35 on December 15, 1967. She was married to Jim Morris on June 24, 1969, and Mr. Morris preceded her in death in December 6, 1977. She was later married to Frank Wheeler on June 26, 1979 and they later divorced. Survivors include a daughter; Patricia (Dan) Shannon, Ottawa, KS., their three children; Sara Shannon, of Twentynine Palms, CA, John ‘Jack’ Shannon and Gwendolyn Shannon of the home, Ottawa, KS, Mark’s three children; Clinton (Brandie) Coyle, Katie (Chad) Bilderback, and Laura Coyle; great granddaughter, Sophie Coyle, two great grandsons, Aiden & Jackson Bilderback and great granddaughter, Blair Bilderback, a sister; Virginia Hager, Atchison, KS, step-son; Don (Arlene) Wheeler, Bartlesville, OK., their children; Tim (Rose) Wheeler, April (David) Box, Aaron Wheeler, Eden Wheeler, all of Bartlesville, OK., and three great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. Helen was also preceded in death by a sister, Wanda Boos and six brothers; Chet, Bert, Rowland, Richard, Clyde and Bill Blair, a foster daughter, Shirley Wyer.