Johnnie Max Wheeler

Johnnie Max Wheeler, born October 11, 1933, in Arlington, Texas, to Marlin and Kate Miller Wheeler, was greeted by his Heavenly Father on December 10, 2020 as he departed his earthly home. A graveside service for Max will be held 2:00pm Saturday, December 19, 2020 at New Gordon Cemetery in Gordon, TX. Due to COVID-19 there will be no formal visitation but Max will lie in state on Friday, December 18 from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm at Edwards Funeral Home, 215 E, Housley, Strawn, TX. Mask and social distancing will be required for the funeral home and at the graveside service.

The 1951 Santo High School graduate started working for Western Electric - the manufacturing, supply and installation arm of AT&T - and married his high school sweetheart, Imogene Butler, in 1952. After working 31 years with Western Electric, his first retirement came in 1982. Max and Imogene built a house and settled on their ranch in Gordon. For a period, he tended to the ranch, bred and raised Appaloosa horses, was president of the Texas Appaloosa Horse Club, and did custom farming - plowing and cutting hay for other farms.

In 1987, Max let some people talk him into running as the Palo Pinto Tax Assessor-Collector, a job he said was “fairly stressful.” He retired from the tax assessor position in 2002. Throughout these years, Max was very involved in the community. He served on the board of the Palo Pinto County Farm Bureau, was a deacon of the First Baptist Church Gordon, and a member and officer of the Gordon Lions Club, as well as a member of the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Posse. He was a Mason for over 60 years. After retiring as tax assessor-collector, he served on the board of directors at the Mineral Wells Senior Center and got involved with the Silver Notes singing group. They met at one of the nursing homes in Mineral Wells on a rotating basis each week to bring joy to the residents through their music until the pandemic closed the nursing homes to outside visitors. Max enjoyed singing and playing his guitar in “jam sessions” at local singing events. His collection of country and gospel CDs is impressive. Max enjoyed all kinds of music but gospel singing topped his list. He often went to bed with music playing in his ear. We are sure that he is sitting in with the Heavenly choirs singing his favorite tunes now.


Max was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers – Joe Von, Everett, and Harold Wheeler – and three sisters – Jeannette Burnett, Vernelle McCalla, and Burkie Thornton. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Imogene Butler Wheeler; sisters – Eva Lu Wright, Linda Duncan, and Franna McCullars; daughter Kay Walker-Horn and husband Vernon; son Johnny Max Wheeler, Jr. and wife Marty; Grandchildren – Bill Reed and wife Carol; Mike Reed and wife Michelle; Jess Wheeler and wife Heather; Wendy Knight and husband Greg; Holly Carr and husband Chris; 12 Great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews that he dearly loved. He will be missed by all of them.