Janice Lee Wheeler

"On Tuesday, January 31st, 2023, Janice Lee Wheeler, at the too early age of 48 was taken to Heaven. Born in Sacramento, CA, she graduated from Cosumnes River College and received her AA in Photography in 2007. She was a child day care operator before finding her passion becoming a wedding photographer. She married her soulmate, James Wheeler, Oct 29, 1994 and they had two amazing children, Jordan Brian Cody Wheeler and Alyssa Meadow Wheeler and of course her beloved Grand Puppies Yeezy and Summer. My beloved Janice was taken to be with her mother way too soon for all of us. Janice Lee Wheeler. Janice Lee, “You got an okie name,” I would tease her all the time. She would laugh because she never took herself that seriously. We were meant to be. Me, a jokester who always had a one liner, and her, my personal crowd who would laugh at everything I said.  She could make anyone feel like they were the best comedian ever because she loved to laugh and would laugh at anything. She loved her family. So many cousins, aunts, uncles, in laws, her special, special nephews and nieces but most of all our mother who we refer to as Harmony and her beautiful sisters. When Janice, Harmony and I would be together. We would laugh so much. I would bug and bug and my mom would stomp her feet like a child and tell me Nnnoooo, stop bugging her and we would laugh. I would always tell her that Harmony loves you more than me and Janice adored my mother. Her sisters, Kristie and Misty, were the Three Musketeers. They would go out and take over anywhere they were. Janice, the social butterfly, Misty the wild, wear your emotions on your sleeve one, and Kristie, the mama lion watching over them keeping them in line but ready to take over if trouble popped off. Janice loved you ladies so much. I pray she visits you and whispers, “Hey Sis” or “Sister” and brings you comfort.  Her baby boy, Jordan, the Golden Child. No mother could be prouder of a child. She was in awe of the man you have become. She loved you so much. You did everything right and made life so easy for us. Just quiet strength. She was so excited for your upcoming wedding to our daughter Traci. She knew you found a real one and was so happy.  Continue to be the backbone of our family. So strong. So much wisdom. You were always her little man. Her baby boy.  Her Alyssa Bear. What can I say?  You weren't as easy. Lol. You pushed her. Riled her up. Tested her. Broke her down.  But you helped shape and make her stronger. She adjusted. She learned. She became a better mother because of you.  I am so happy that you made it possible for her to see Italy. She loved the time you shared together. You are so much like her, more than you can imagine. Be strong my baby girl.  Finally, her puzzle piece, James. She was my soulmate. Not a lot of people know how connected we were. We first met in 7th/8th grade.  My friend and I were on our bikes passing her and sprayed her with silly string. We didn’t talk, just laughed as we drove off and I had no idea who she was. Four years later, he set us up and we talked a couple times but never connected. The next year he tried again but this time she saw me and liked what she saw. Lol. She says she would run out after school to see me “siding” in my car, she would wave and I would “chunk up the deuce” as I drove off and she would run back to get on the bus. My friend warned her, “Every girl falls in love with him” and she said “me, fall in love, yeah right.”  Within a week, she was in the front seat and she never took the bus again. 31 years of amazing conversations, jokes, fights, makeups and so many laughs. We made it somehow against all odds. A stupid 18 year old boy and a mature, beautiful 17 year old woman. We laughed so much when we recalled the Silly String incident. I remembered it vividly and she kept saying that was you. We were meant to be. We were always going to find each other.  We did it baby and I thank God my friend was right. I thank God you honored me with your love."