Eva "Mike" Rosella Wheeler

Featured in: February 2017

WHEELER — Eva "Mike" Rosella (Pearles) Keller, 80; born Dec. 3, 1935, Martinez, Calif.; died Oct. 25, 2016, Enterprise, Ore. Surviving: husband, Dick; son, Lloyd Lee Keller, Modesto, Calif.; daughter, Diana Keller, Enterprise; brother, Joe Pearles, Nashville, Tenn.; sister, Luella Joan Rogers, St. Helena, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Eva Rosella “Mike” Wheeler lived in California until moving to Oregon in 1975, and later to Enterprise in 2000.

Mike married Dick Wheeler on Sept. 25, 1980, she died on their 36th wedding anniversary.

Her passions were family, friends and artwork, including oil painting, pencil pictures, crocheting, antique light shades and various other crafts. She had a special place in her heart for animals and was known to welcome in many a stray that came her way.

“My favorite memories are of the two of us in the art room, playing old albums, singing and laughing with tears rolling down our cheeks fogging up our eyes until we could no longer see the art we were working on,” said daughter Diana Fay Keller. “The joy and laughter in the art room with Mother are some of the most precious moments I had with her.”