Rickey Gene Wheeler

After fighting a courageous battle with an aggressive form of cancer, Rickey Gene Wheeler passed away into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ on December 13, 2017.

Rickey was born on March 20, 1961 in Durant, Oklahoma to Bill and Genette Wheeler. He was raised in Denison, Texas.  He graduated from Denison High School and attended Grayson County College.  In 1983, Rickey joined the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Okinawa and was honorably discharged in 1987.

Rickey returned to Denison, working in the industrial sector. Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Y.Q. Tillery, he followed his passion for law and order and in 1992, he began his career at the Grayson County Sheriff's Office in Detention as a Detention Officer where he was assigned to the GCSO Special Response Team. Rickey subsequently moved to Dispatch.  In 1994, he moved to Patrol where he helped the office use seizure funds to secure its first K-9 Officer, Arty.  Rickey and Arty became GCSO's first K-9 team and worked together for five years.  Then in 1997, he was promoted to Sergeant and moved to the Narcotics Division.  He got his second K-9 partner Aks in June 1999.  Following that, in 2004, Rickey was assigned the role of Assistant Public Information Officer.  In 2006, he assumed the role of Sergeant over two divisions, Narcotics and Criminal Investigations.  In 2009, he was selected as the Commander of the Special Response Team.  In 2010, Rickey became the full time Public Information Officer.  In 2012, he was promoted to Lieutenant over two divisions, Criminal Investigation and Narcotics Investigation.  In 2014, he became the Lieutenant over the Enforcement Division, which includes Patrol.  Rickey was promoted in 2016 to the rank of Captain in Charge of the Enforcement Bureau overseeing the following divisions:  Criminal Investigations, Narcotics Investigations, and Patrol.

Rickey had a special place in his heart for the needs of children which is reflected by his service to our community. He served on several non-profit boards, including the Grayson County Crisis Center, Grayson County Children's Advocacy Center, the House of Eli, and was a mentor to students at Fairview Elementary School with the Sherman Independent School District.  Rickey enjoyed giving back to the community that had given so much to him.

When he wasn't volunteering or working, you could most likely find Rickey on the golf course, his other passion. He always enjoyed playing rounds of golf with his friends and in 2008, his team was eligible to compete in the NFL Alumni Super Bowl of Golf Tournament held in Carlsbad, California that benefitted local children's charities.  His love of sports did not stop there.  He loved the Denison Yellow Jackets and was a die hard Oklahoma Sooners fan.  Boomer Sooner!

While he had many passions in life, none so dear to his heart as his love for God; his wife, Laura; and his children, Drew and Ben. In addition to his wife and his children, Rickey is survived by his parents; his sister, Sherry and her husband John Stovall of Sherman; father and mother-in-law, Mark and Diane Gibson of Sherman; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Bre Gibson of Plano; and many aunts, uncles and cousins; and his love for his many friends who cherish and admire him.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

The family extends their deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all in the Grayson County community who showed their love and support for Rickey and the entire Wheeler family during this difficult time. Your support was truly overwhelming to him.

Rickey had a zest for life. His quick wit, sense of humor, and dedication to law enforcement and community service will be missed by all who knew and loved him but will live on in his children, family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Sherman, Bobby Hancock, Mike Lawson, and Steve Rice officiating. Burial to follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Denison, Texas.  Visitation will be held Friday, December 15, 2017 from 5 to 8 pm at Waldo Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Rickey Wheeler Scholarship Fund benefitting law enforcement officers at Landmark Bank or the Grayson County Children's Advocacy Center.