Marilea Fletcher Wheeler Duke, 87, of Heber Springs, Arkansas, left this earth to be with Jesus on April 3, 202,5, after fighting a short battle with cancer. Her presence here on earth will be greatly missed.
Marilea (Jo) was born in Onia, Stone County, Arkansas on August 31, 1937 to Emmitt and Ella Fletcher. She was the seventh child of nine. She was saved at an early age in Onia, Arkansas at Lower Clark Church (now known as Bethany Missionary Baptist Church).
She was a homemaker who loved decorating and taking care of her home, dancing and shopping. Her greatest joy in life was her children and family.
She is survived by her husband of 41 years, John Duke; daughter Peggy Estrada (Marty); son Steven Wheeler (Angie); son Michael Roy Wheeler (Cindy) and step-daughter Jodi Lintz (Jim); sister Mavis Elizabeth Fletcher Lindsay and brother Eldo Daniel Fletcher; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Preceded in death by her parents, Emmitt Jeffery Fletcher and Ella Viola Balentine Fletcher; six siblings: Elmer Theodore Fletcher, Elma Bonnie Fletcher Wilson, Gladys Mae Fletcher Morrison, Lenvel Emmitt Fletcher, Junious (J.L.) Fletcher, and Logan Elbert (L.E.) Fletcher, grandson Nathaniel Wayne Adams, great-granddaughter Cheyenne Lynn Zumwalt and step-daughter Wendy Hale.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, from 10:00 am until 11:00 am, at Bethany Baptist Church, in Onia, Arkansas. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am, with Brother Gary Don Fletcher officiating. She will be laid to rest at Pordue Cemetery, in Onia, Arkansas.
Pallbearers are grandsons Ryan Adams, Brad Wheeler and Blake Wheeler along with great-grandsons Gabriel Adams, Oliver Adams and Aiden O’Gorman.
Arrangements are entrusted to Mountain View Funeral Service.
