Jean Hayes Bartlett Wheeler

Jean Wheeler Hayes-Bartlett, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, wife, sister and friend was born May 8, 1926, in Pasadena CA, the daughter of George Martin and Estella Stanton Wheeler.

Jean was preceded in death by her first husband, Melvin Hayes, a sister, Marie Sargeant, a brother, Arnold Wheeler, an infant grandson, Heath Noble (Kolby's twin) and her parents, George and Estella Wheeler.

Jean Wheeler married Melvin Lee Hayes in September of 1948 in Klamath Falls, OR. She moved with her husband, Mel Hayes, and family to Rupert, ID in 1959 when they became recipients of a Bureau of Reclamation homestead north of Rupert. Jean and Mel Hayes celebrated their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1998. Melvin Hayes passed away February 20, 2001. Jean resided at the homestead until December of 2017, she then moved to Burley, ID.

Jean married William "Bill" Bartlett on September 5, 2009, in a joyous Red Hat wedding ceremony in the Burley United Methodist Church. She enjoyed spending the winters in Yuma. Sadly, Bill passed away March 23, 2017 in Yuma AZ.

Jean is survived by her 2 children, Marcedes (Marcy) Hayes-Moad (Roy), of Burley, ID and picture Colin Hayes of Paul, ID, 10 grandchildren: Secily (Rob) Swanson, Darik (Cassandra) Noble, Kolby Noble, Jeremy (Brandy) Vorwaller, Jaimi (Cameron) Catmull, Jessica Jo Christensen, Jodi (Johnny) Montes, Jarrett, Jaci and Jaxon Hayes, 24 great-grandchildren: Shaylyn, Sydney, Skyley and Quinlan Swanson, Jade, Kaylin, Katie Jean and Tyler Noble, Emily Linden and Emma Bologna, Kimberly Sheirbon and Zoey Noble, Aleah Hernandez and Aubree Rasmussen, Jessica Jo Christianson, Austen, Maddison, Allyson and Danten Vorwaller, Kaleigh and Camdyn Catmull, and Avery and Carson Christensen. She is also survived by 3 great-great grandchildren, Saemus Swanson, Lucy Gregory and Aurora Christianson and a sister, Janice Murphy of Visalia CA as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

During World War II, she worked one summer as a welder in the Oregon Shipyard in Portland, OR and for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Klamath Falls, OR the summer before starting college.

Jean attended Central Grade school and Harding Junior High in Newberg, OR, and graduated valedictorian from Henley High School in the Klamath Falls area. She attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, ID.

Jean was a career woman and worked for many years as a secretary in several businesses, beginning with Dick Miller Oldsmobile and US Bank in Klamath Falls, First Security Bank in Rupert, Cassia National Bank, the State of Idaho and Allied Agencies in Burley. She was a member of Professional Secretaries International for 25 years.

Since retiring in 2000, Jean became more involved in civic activities and helped in composing the "Luck of the Draw" book (a history of the Minidoka and Jerome County homesteaders who arrived between 1953 and 1959). She also was a volunteer for Rupert's Centennial Committee, helping with the various activities throughout the 2006 centennial year, with the highlight being the "Vintage and Vogue" Fashion Show. She also served several years as chairman of the local homesteaders group, which includes homesteaders from 1953 to1959.

Jean loved to sew and created many beautiful garments. She loved baking, coming up with many delicious desserts, which she happily shared with friends from the workplace. She also enjoyed reading, her favorite being books of history and romance. She also enjoyed traveling, her favorite trip being to England, France, Switzerland and Germany with her granddaughter, Secily Noble in the late eighties. A trip to Niagara Falls in the early sixties with husband Mel Hayes was great fun, and a hot air balloon ride over Yuma, AZ with husband Bill Bartlett.

She enjoyed attending various events throughout the Mini-Cassia area and especially enjoyed becoming a "Red Hat Lady" and making many more new friends. Jean also enjoyed fellowshipping with her Burley and Rupert Methodist friends.

Jean was thrilled to be a great-grandmother as well as a great-great-grandmother to so many children, and could tell you the first and last name, as well as the birth date of everyone. They were very special to her, as well as her grandchildren, some of whom got to know her for a long, long time, and others who came along later in her life. They were all truly loved.

Jean really was hoping to have a big 100th birthday bash, so the family will be doing a celebration of life for Jean Hayes-Bartlett on May 8, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Burley United Methodist Church when she would have turned 100 years of young! We encourage anyone that has been in Jean’s life to come join and celebrate with us, bring pictures, and share stories of this wonderful lady that has blessed our lives.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hansen Mortuary.