Edna Luella Wheeler Preece
LEWISTON/COVE, UTAH: Edna Luella Wheeler Preece, 90,
of Lewiston/Cove passed away Wednesday, January 11,
2006 in Logan. She was born in Smoot WY on January
15, 1915. Her parents were Thomas Hardy and Bertha
Amelia Eskelson Wheeler. She was the 11th of 14
children. She married Norris Gregory Preece on
October 31, 1933. They were later sealed in the Logan
Temple. Most of their years together were spent in
Cove UT. They had seven sons, Spencer (Ann), Norman
(Linda), Vernon, Craig (Joyce), Howard (Jill), Steven
(Jane) and Roger (Gay).
Norris passed away in February 1969. In 1970, Luella
was introduced to Eldon S. Williams of Richland WA.
They were married later that year. Luella and her
last two sons moved to Richland for 3.5 years until
Eldon retired. They then moved back to Lewiston where
they spent their remaining years together. After
Eldon’s death in early 1987 Luella remained in
Lewiston for a few years and then decided she'd like
to move to a retirement home. She moved to The
Williamsburg Inn in Logan and then later to the
Terrace Grove Assisted Living Center. She made a
number of friends there and participated in many of
the activities. The staff always said how much they
loved her and now how much they will miss her.
Luella was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. She was very active in the church,
holding numerous callings. She really enjoyed her
years as a cub scout leader and spoke often of those
boys and their experiences. Later in life she was
called to be a genealogy worker at the Logan
Genealogical Library. She served there for
approximately 15 years where she helped numerous
people find their ancestors. She also found the time
to do much of her own family history work. She so
enjoyed it and spoke often of it. Luella and Eldon
served full time, for the church, in the Arkansas,
Little Rock mission. They touched numerous lives
while there and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Luella and Eldon were custodians of their ward church
building for a number of years. They received an
award from the Salt Lake Tribune for the
beautification of the church grounds.
Luella had a number of occupations during her life in
order to help support her family, including working
very hard on their farm in Cove UT. Her greatest joy,
and success, was as a mother of seven boys. She was a
wonderful mother and grandmother. Loving, caring,
teaching and being a friend to her children and
grandchildren were her strengths. "If you can't say
something nice, then don't say anything at all", was
her motto.
"We love you mom and will miss you and your positive
influence in our lives."
Luella is preceded in death by two sons, Howard and
Vernon and survived by five sons, Spencer, Norman,
Craig, Steven and Roger; 25 grandchildren; 37
great-grandchildren and by her brother Douglas Wheeler
of Afton WY and sister Mabel Gaddis of Tooele UT.
Funeral services will be held at 12 PM on Tuesday
January 17, 2006 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E
Center, Logan UT. A viewing will begin at 10 AM that
morning. Condolences and memories may be sent to the
family at Allen Mortuaries.