Betty Wheeler

alignjustifyBetty Jayne Kacir Wheeler passed away peacefully on March 29th, 2009 following a courageous battle with cancer. Betty was born on June 28th, 1938 in classic, small town America with a family steeped in traditional values of honesty, family, hard work, love of the land, and pride in her familys Czech heritage.

alignjustifyAfter graduation from Temple high school she attended the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with highest honors. She married in 1959, had three sons, and moved to Dallas in 1968. Following her
orce in 1970 Betty started a career and worked hard to raise and provide for her children.

alignjustifyBetty began working at Region 10 Education Center in Dallas in 1971 as a language consultant where she worked part time until 1978. During this time she completed her Masters degree in Speech PathologyDeaf education from SMU in 1975 again with highest honors.

alignjustifyShe began working full time at Region 10 in 1978 and worked tirelessly and passionately until her retirement in 2003. During that time Betty was instrumental in the implementation and management of special education programs, which greatly influenced not only those with whom she worked, but hundreds of students impacted by the efficacy of these programs. In 1992 she developed a program called Teacher Preparation and Certification which facilitated the recruitment, training, and certification of professionals from all walks of life as teachers. She brought this concept from infancy to reality and with help of her coworkers eventually made it into a model for the state of Texas and beyond. During her time with this program it certified an estimated 6500 new teachers who have taught an estimated 780,000 students.

alignjustifyShe is survived by her brother George Sidney Kacir, her very best friend and constant companion William McGarvey, her sons David, Brent, and Craig, their wives Tara, Selena, Nicole, her grandsons Jordan and Ryan, a large and supportive extended family and very good friends. She is preceded in death by her parents August and Bettie Kacir and brother Stanley Kacir.

alignjustifyDuring her retirement she enjoyed spending time with her family, watching the grandchildren grow, traveling, and working on the family farm. She enjoyed the beauty of a newborn calf and bringing in the harvest at seasons end. We will hold her smile in our hearts, her example in the way we live, everlasting gratitude for all of her sacrifices, and cherish her memory.

alignjustifyVisitation will be on Friday, April 3rd from 6-7 pm at Harper -Talasek Funeral Home at 500 West Barton Ave in Temple, Texas with the formal service the following morning at 11am. An informal celebration of life will be held in Dallas on April 8th at 6pm at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas at 4015 Normandy Ave-Dallas.
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Visitation

HarperTalasek Funeral Home
500 W. Barton Ave.
Temple, TX  76501
Friday, April 3, 2009
67 P.M.

Service

Chapel Service

HarperTalasek Funeral Home
500 W. Barton Ave.
Temple, TX  76501
Saturday, April 4, 2009
11:00 A.M.

Cemetery

Hillcrest Cemetery
1873 N. 1st Street
Temple, TX  76501