When I bought my house on Dorchester, my mom informed me that Connie & Jean Wampler who lived down the street, were related to us. My grandmother and Jean Wampler were first cousins. Jean passed not long after I moved here so Mr. Connie, as I called him, was my neighbor for the past 24 years. I met Sheila and Rynn when they came here to clean out his house and sell it. Even though I had known "of" Sheila my entire growing up in the neighborhood and going to John Adams Elementary, although she was 2 years ahead of me. When she and Rynn were here getting that house ready, I went down there and introduced myself. She gave me an estate sale preview and stated that "family" doesn't have to pay! Well, in our first meeting that was when I saw who Sheila Wampler was! I met Rynn but we didn't really have much of a chance to visit. Sheila did tell me that they had been together for over 23 years and they were ready to start their retirement in NC. During the time they were here in Norman, I had the chance to take some photos of Jean and Roberta taken at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary and showed them to Sheila. She was thrilled to see the photos of her mom & aunt that she had never seen. She took pics of the pics with her iPhone. When my other distant cousin Debbie, whom I also attended John Adams with, posted about Sheila's passing on Facebook, I SO SAD for a 3X removed cousin I had only just met! Sheila had that kind of impact from the start. I only wish I had gone down to Mr. Connie's house more when they were here, but I will always think of her and how gracious she was on first meeting. The last day I left there, Sheila gave me a big cousin hug and I just admired her from day one. Peace be with you Rynn. I am so sad for your great loss. <3

I don’t know that it is possible to express the love that I have for both of these girls. I will never forget when I met Sheila, Rayna and I were putting together a riding lawnmower to start Rynn;s Lawncare back up after a brief move that took Rayna to Denver. Sheila jumped right in to help us. Her first job with us was mowing Cardinal Paper, a huge field! It was scalping season so I road the new riding mower while Sheila ran behind me and would empty the bags when full. She was a mess after we were done and I’m sure she wondered what the hell she had gotten herself into. The adventure began then. Rynn’s Lawncare grew way beyond what I would have ever imagined. I will never forget how Sheila and I would create grease boards for Rayna to track every bit of what was going on. I worked side by side with her on many occasions and we always had a great time. The work ethic was incredible. Even though I had a career I was always willing to jump in anytime they needed help. It was a stress relief from my corporate America jobs.

When I bought my first SeaDoo I took them to Lake Overholser and let them ride it. They didn’t know the water could be so fun. Nancy and I had a home on the Lake Eufaula and would have them come play with us. After a couple of trips and seeing what it was like to actually relax and have fun, they bought a cabin. We had more fun than imaginable. Laughed till our guts and faces hurt. The many adventures. They decided one day to get a Kettle Korn trailer so they could go to events and sale their favorite popcorn. Yes, once again another adventure for us all. They added Pork Rinds and to this day, I can’t eat them! I feel so incredibly honored to have known and to have Sheila such a huge part of my life. They are both my family. We had our ups and downs, but one thing that was always there and could not be taken away was the love and deep affection the 3 of us have for each other. It’s like Peggy said, you just pick up where you left off. 

She had her hands full with mine and Rayna’s antics and all of the crazy things we did and came up with. I promise to be there for Rayna forever, however she needs me and for whatever craziness we can conjure up.

Sheila your angel wings have been earned well by you. The adventure ends on earth but I know the adventure will continue as you guide us all from up above. You will be forever in my heart and soul! I love you!

I don’t even know where to begin. Rayna and I were always playing together when the Whiteners would get together, and as we grew older we lost touch with one another. We got together at a restaurant in Oklahoma City, I can’t even remember the year but it was several years ago. I saw Rynna and we hugged as if it had only be a day. She introduced me to her “better half” sorry Rynn her name was Sheila Wampler and from that day forward I have loved Sheila unconditionally. After I went through a very difficult divorce I knew who to call, Sheila & Rynn said get to Eufala, Ok. And they’d take care of me. They went beyond caring but loving me so very deeply. That is what I saw in Sheila, she was an angel here on earth, she listened, she prayed, she would be silent if I couldn’t talk. But Sheila took me under her wing and covered me with such kindness, love, shelter as any human being could ever do. II stayed with them several weeks and I’d come back to Missouri but I’d get to missing my 2 gals, so back to Sheila & Raynas I’d go. I went to see them in Sparta North Carolina & it was magical, such a beautiful place that Sheila & Rynn had fell in love with. The 3 of us were always there when it was needed, I wasn’t with Sheila the last couple of years because of Covid. Her daddy Connie was I’ll and we couldn’t risk me traveling to see him, but ever so often I’d get a phone call and Sheila would say, I just needed to hear Peggy’s voice. I miss you and love you dearly, after dad gets better we will get together. She lost her wonderful daddy and it took a toll on her. But after a while her and Rayna ended up back in Sparta, NC. I was in Florida with all my kids, grandkids, daughter-in-laws when I got the phone call on June 2nd, Sheila has passed away and is in heaven with her momma and her daddy. I cried for my loss of the best cousin Rynn could have brought into my life. I love you Sheila Gaye Wampler and I’ll see you in heaven again some day.