Jessica Wheeler's Obituary
Jessica Wheeler
February 18, 1969 – April 17, 2025
Jessica Wheeler, a bright soul whose life included grit, creativity, and an unrelenting love for animals, died at 56 after a brave battle with early onset frontotemporal degeneration and bulbar ALS.
Born in Houston, Texas, Jessica was the third of four children and known to many as a twin in spirit to her younger brother Geoffrey.
Jessica’s industrious spirit was ever present as she earned her keep with odd jobs in Philadelphia before returning to Texas. Her hands were rarely idle: she worked in black-and-white photo labs, launched a yardwork business (“Wheeler Works,” earning her the affectionate title Compost Queen), and later pursued higher education with relentless passion. Jessica earned a BA in Kinesiology and a Master’s in Exercise Science from the University of Houston, eventually joining the faculty at the same institution. Never one to settle, she studied for an MBA and sold kombucha while fostering countless rescue dogs, some of which became permanent family. For many years, Jessica was a dedicated student and black belt in Chayon Ryu Martial Arts, training under Grand Master Kim Soo. She not only mastered the discipline but gave back by teaching younger generations at the school—passing on strength, grace, and focus.
Jessica’s heart was full of art. She painted prolifically, studied at the Glassell School of Art, and left her mark on countless canvases—including a cherished tree mural that still lives on her brother’s living room wall.
A devoted animal lover, she was drawn to horses as a child and never met a cat or dog she couldn’t love—or save. Her life was not without hardship; Jessica wrestled with loneliness, emotional pain, and depression, but through it all, she remained determined, loving, and entirely herself.
Jessica’s family honors her complex legacy with deep love and gratitude. She will be remembered for her fierce intelligence, her stubborn will, her compassion for animals, her artistic gifts, and the blazing fire she carried.
She is survived by her brother Geoff, sister Meredith, mother Irene, step-father Doug, beloved pets, and the many people whose lives she touched.
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