NaVada Gray Wheeler

NaVada Fay Gray Wheeler, age 77 of Mountain Home, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. A viewing will be held at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, on Thursday, March 5, 2015, from 4 to 5:45 p.m., and a Rosary will follow at 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel on Friday, March 6, 2015, and burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home.

NaVada was born in Gooding, Idaho, on July 3, 1937, and lived in Bliss through the age of 9. She was the daughter of Lloyd and Lila Gray. NaVada's parents divorced in 1947, and Lila brought her four daughters to Mountain Home to live.

NaVada lived and worked in Mountain Home for several years and had a business called Vada's Vidals. She had five children: Tony, Robert, Michele, Sherry and John.

NaVada married Tom Berriochoa Wheeler Jr. in 1976. She moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1983 with her husband, Tom, where they lived for 30 years and Tom was a truck driver. They recently moved back to Mountain Home.

NaVada's mother in-law used to call her the pied piper of people. She made friends where ever she went. She loved to do crafts, pine needle baskets, paint and crochet and many other crafts. She loved all animals.

Navada is survived by her loving husband, Tom; her children, Robert W. Truelsen of Boise; Michele V. Spencer of Florence, Mass.; Sherry E. Hart of Bayview, Idaho; John J. Berriochoa of Caldwell; two sisters, Sharron J. Gray Nolff of Oscoda, Mich.; and Gardailia E. Gray Rose of Crane, Texas; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and many friends, like the "O.T. Gang."

She was preceded in death by her son, Tony Phillips, and her sister, Delores E. Gray Hightower.

NaVada will be missed by all. She was such a blessing.

In lieu of flowers, donations in NaVada's memory can be sent to American Legion Post 101, 715 South 3rd West St., Mountain Home, ID 83647.