Funeral services for Jessie Lorene Story Wheeler Hitzfield, 68, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 12, 2012, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Hitzfield died at 8:50 p.m., Wednesday, November 7, 2012, at her home.
She was born March 12, 1944, at Houston, Missouri, to Jesse Clarence Story and Nora Alwilda Candace Gordon Story Dunnigan. Jessie graduated from the eighth grade at Willow Springs Junior High School and later attained her GED. She waitressed and worked at the Trophy Plant and later became a CNA and worked at Willow Health Care, NHC and Brooke Haven. She was a devoted mother to her three children, Allan, Debbie and Tamela, whom she raised on her own. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, reupholstering furniture, embroidery, spending time with friends and family but most of all going to yard sales with her youngest daughter, Tamela. Jessie was baptized and was a member of Lost Camp Baptist Church. She raised her children in church and shared the love of Jesus Christ with them.
She is survived by three children, Alan Dudgeon, wife, Tami, Debbie Dudgeon Walker, husband, Bobby and Tamela Wheeler; her seven loving grandchildren, Tasha Phegley, husband, Anthony, Lane Dudgeon, Tate Dudgeon, Christy Hicks, husband, Joel, Dalton Woodley, wife, Shakara, Keenan Walker and Cheylyn Walker; great-grandchildren, whom were very special to her heart, Hunter Hicks, Braxton, Emmalynn, Scott and Gavin Phegley, as well as awaiting arrival of two more precious great-grandbabies to add to her family tree; one brother, John Story; two sisters, Irma Jones, husband, Gaylon, and Melba Rothermich, husband, Tom; two half-brothers, Tommy and Sam Story; two half-sisters, Patty Boze and Millie Wooten; special "son" Gerald Drumright; "grandchildren", Jana Drumright and Scott Drumright; "great-grandchildren", Sofia and Layden Hernandez; many nieces and nephews; her church family; and numerous friends.
Her parents, four brothers, five sisters, four half-sisters as well as two special people, Howard Alan Dudgeon and Lloyd Wheeler, precede her in death.
She will always be remembered as a wonderful loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Those who crossed her path knew she was a fun and caring individual. She will be remembered and missed in the hearts of all.
Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, November 11, 2012 at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the family, mailed to the Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775 or may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. On line condolences may be expressed at robertsondrago.com. [ozarkareanetwork.com online obituaries, Nov. 2012]