Herman Manning WILEY

July 24, 1882-July 19, 1961

Mason
Please see Herman Manning Wiley Family Marker

*Photo/information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley

*Obituary
Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 A.M. at the Methodist Church in Wheeler for the most outstanding, colorful and truest friend I have ever known.

H.M. Wiley, who in my opinion could be trully [sic] called, "the daddy of Wheeler", passed away at 2:30 A.M. Wednesday morning at his home in Wheeler. He had been under a physician's care for almost a year and had suffered numerous heart attacks.

In writing a story about a man as great as H.M. Wiley, words are feeble instruments of expression, especially coming from someone who knew Mr. Wiley for only four short years.

In the words of D.O. Beene, a lifelong friend of Mr. Wiley's, "The passing of H.M. Wiley is certainly the end of an era for the City of Wheeler. He was one of the pioneering spirits who had faith in the little town of Wheeler. Back in the days when not many would gamble on the future of the city, he was in the forefront in making Wheeler a better place in which to live. He brought the modern fuel of natural gas to our little town when men of greater means were skeptical of the success of the venture," Beene said.

"H.M. Wiley has been my friend through out the more than thirty-four years I have known him; I have done many legal services for him in the years past, and never in my life did I do anything for him, that he did not pay me for my services more than I ask. That was the kind of a man he was. In my opinion, the brightest star in H.M. Wiley's crown, will be the efforts to be fair to his fellowman, during his journey on earth," Beene continued.

"H.M. and I did not always agree in every matter that we might discuss, but we had such a great respect for the feelings of each other, and we had so many areas and so many subjects on which we did agree, that we did not discuss the matters in which we disagreed."

"In the death of H.M. Wiley, the city of Wheeler has lost a benefactor, and I have lost a friend," Mr. Beene concluded.

Harry Wofford, another friend of Mr. Wiley's, had this to say, "H.M. Wiley lent himself to every worth while enterprise that would benefit his community. Because of his efforts the town of Wheeler has better schools and churches. He served Wheeler County as County and District Clerk in a most effecient [sic] manner for more than 11 years. His desire to see his community grow prompted him to invest his time and capital in establishing the Wheeler Gas Company, and through industry and perserverance [sic] this facility was developed to provide the community with fuel that encouraged the building of better homes and businesses."

Robert Holt expressed the opinion that H.M. Wiley was one of the hardest working men he had ever seen. "Herman was the type man that always lead and never drove and he had a very outstanding personality."

Dr. Nicholson, another lifelong friend of Mr. Wiley's and his physician expressed the opinion that Mr. Wiley was one of the greatest men to ever live in Wheeler.

Mr. Wiley once said about himself that he, among with the other old timers, had to die before Wheeler could really progress. But I say that unless Wheeler merchants and residents are careful, their footing may slip, because now one of our old watch dogs is dead.

Mr. Wiley has never been one to back down from a fight, in fact, his Teddy Roosevelt type tactics and personality is one of the main reasons we have the courthouse in Wheeler today.

Mr. Wiley always expressed an opinion on every subject and to many of his newer friends, he may have seemed radical. But to those who really knew him, he was a work horse, a paymaster and a true friend who would never waver in his convictions.

Many a time has his compliments and words of encouragement helped some of his younger friends on to new accomplishments and goals.

Herman Manning Wiley was born in Clay County, Ala., on July 24, 1882, and passed away at his home Wednesday morning at 2:30. He was 78 years, 11 months and 25 days old.

He came to Wheeler from Fort Worth in 1906 and he farmed a section of land which he broke out with oxen.

He established the Wheeler Abstract in 1922 and the Wheeler Gas Company in 1926. He attended school at various places and then attended Polytechnic College at Fort Worth. On December 14, 1911 he was married here in Wheeler to Mary Leota Kite.

He has been president of the county school board since 1929. He served on the city school board and was active in all city projects. And since 1953 he has written numerous articles and done extensive research in what he called "Lefthandedness".

He attended and represented Wheeler County in many of the Democratic Conventions.

He was a member of the Methodist Church and Wheeler Masonic Lodge, Kiwanis and Chamber of Commerce.

The body will lie in state at the Kirk Funeral Home until 9:00 A.M. Saturday when it will be moved to the Methodist Church where it will lie in state until service time. The casket will not be opened after the service.

The family requests that any memorials be sent to the Cancer Fund, Heart Fund or the Methodist Home of Waco.

Rev. O.A. McBrayer, Amarillo, and Rev. Bob Ely of Wheeler will officiate. Interment will be in the Wheeler Cemetery under the direction of the Kirk Funeral Home.

Survivors include: Mrs. H.M. Wiley of the home; John Max Wiley, Wheeler; Mary Lynn Soddy, Jamica, Long Island, N.Y.; Paul Wiley, Pampa; Melba Montgomery, Wheeler; William W. Wiley, Miami, Celist [sic] Wiley, Wheeler; Patsy Woods, Amarillo; Martha Lynn Hutchins, Fort Worth.

One brother, John T. Wiley, Anacortes, Wash; 3 sisters, Mrs. Geo. Walters, Houston; Miss Almada Wiley, Houston; and Mrs. Keith Cato, Fayetville [sic], Ark.

(Published in The Wheeler Times, Wheeler, Texas, Volume 38, Number 31, Thursday, July 20, 1961)

Contributed on 1/9/22

Suggest a Correction

Record #: 480308

Don't Follow