- Date Of Birth: June 12, 1936
- Date Of Death: July 23, 2021
- State: Florida
Merlene Nelson Wheeler, age 85, of Edgewater, died Friday, July 23, 2021 at her residence. Born in Bushnell to Preston and Beatrice Walden Nelson; Merlene moved to this area in 1971 from Panama City, Florida.
Along with raising four children, Merlene retired from her career as a beautician after more than 40 years and went on to manage the family business, a local pet store, for more than 20 years. She loved her work, refusing to retire until she was in her 80’s. In addition to her passion for her work, she had a love of music. She was a member of Servant’s Quarters Fellowship, where she remained active in the choir, handbells and the children’s programs until her health no longer allowed.
Survivors include her 2 daughters, Laura George, and Lana Fisher, and her husband, Patrick; son, Larry Wheeler, and his wife, Terri; a brother, Donald Nelson, and his wife, Sharon; 4 sisters, Myrtis More and her husband, Skip Griffith, Margaret Cherry, Mildred Gilley, and Linda Shackelford, and her husband, Marcus; 5 grandchildren, Amy Hiers, and her husband Matt, Shelby Wheeler, Matt Johnson, Megan Swain and Lana Walters, and her husband Sean; 2 great grandchildren. Merlene was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Lisa Johnson; a grandson Jeremy Fisher; and a brother, Bob Nelson.
