James Leonard "Boots" Wheeler, Sr., 83 of Chaptico, MD died November 11, 2009 at his residence. Born April 10, 1926, in Chaptico, MD, he was the son of the late Joseph Latham and Maude Russell Wheeler.

He was the loving husband of Agnes Cecelia Knott Wheeler to whom he was married to for 57 years.

He is also survived by his children, Debbie Hall and her husband Mike, Betty Riffle and her husband Pat, and James Wheeler, Jr., all of Chaptico, MD, Theresa McKinney and her husband Ricky of Clements, MD, Joseph Wheeler and his wife Ann of St. Inigoes, MD and Mary Wheeler of Avenue, MD as well as twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchilden; his sisters Ann Patton of Valley Lee, MD and Sis Lang of Great Mills, MD, three sister in laws, Margaret Wheeler of Clements, MD, Delores Wheeler of Hollywood, MD, and Elaine Wheeler of Callaway, MD.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Barbara Gayle Mckay, his brothers Aloysius, Francis, Ernest, Sylvester, Bernard and Charles, his sister Susan Latham and son in law Paul A. Hewitt, Sr.

Boots graduated from St. Mary's Academy "Class of 1944". Mr. Wheeler was a Farmer and Waterman. He resided in St. Mary's County all of his life. He loved working the fields and gardens on his Ford tractors. He loved the water, oystering, crabbing and fishing. He raised produce, livestock, and hunted as well. He enjoyed his chats at the Hughesville Tobacco Market with fellow tobacco farmers and associates. He belonged to the Farm Bureau for over 50 years.

He raised his family to know the meaning of hard work, the value of a dollar, the love of God, nature and mankind. He loved watching the Washington Redskins Football games and the Baltimore Orioles Baseball games and reading his Washington Post paper.

The family will receive friends on Friday, November 13, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, Chaptico, MD with Fr. Timo

thy Baer officiating. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood, MD. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Bobby Hall, Tony Hewitt, James Hewitt, Jason Mckay, Bobby Mckinney and Ryan Wheeler. Honorary Pallbearers will be all his grand children.

Contributions may be left to Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 37575 Chaptico Road, Chaptico, MD 20621.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.