Catherine Edith Wiley

CATHERINE EDITH WILEY, 86

SANFORD - Catherine Edith Wiley, age 86, passed away peacefully on October 31st, 2011 at the Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Florida as a result of a very long bout with Alzheimer's disease.
Catherine, the wife of Talmadge Kilby Wiley, was born on January 22nd, 1925 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Clair Cameron Barnett and Elsie Hawes Perry. Catherine grew up with her parents and sisters on a farm near Diller, Nebraska. She graduated from Diller High School and attended the Lincoln School of Commerce.
Catherine married Captain Dale Richard Garrels who was a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot from Diller Nebraska. Capt. Garrels passed away in Virginia 1963, after which Catherine and her son Gregory moved to Key West, Florida where the U.S. Navy employed her. While residing in Key West she met and married Lieutenant Talmadge K. Wiley on the 7th of December 1965.
Catherine and Lt. Wiley were transferred to Subic Bay, in the Philippines, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and then to the Naval Training Center at Orlando, Florida. Lt. Wiley retired from Naval service after 26 years, and Catherine and Talmadge made their home in the country at Sanford, Florida.
Catherine was employed over the years as an executive secretary for the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, Seminole County, the State of Florida, and the Central Florida Zoological Society. Catherine retired from the workforce to her home in the country in 1978.
Catherine was very active and enjoyed genealogical research as an ongoing project beginning in 1963. She wrote and published a book on her Barnett ancestors, and many of her relatives have enjoyed it.
Catherine was a member of the Sallie Harrison chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Sanford, Florida. She was also a member of the Colonial Dames, the National Genealogical Society, the Illinois State Genealogy Society, and the Federation of Genealogy Society. She was always eager to lend a helping hand to those conducting research into their genealogy.
Capt. Dale R. Garrels, U.S. Air Force, her sister Lucille Balderson, and her parents precede Catherine in death.
Catherine is survived by her husband Talmadge K. Wiley of Sanford, Florida, her sister Margaret Morgan of Lincoln, Nebraska, her daughter, Linda Lucille Garrels Mullen of Fairbanks, Alaska, her sons, Dale R. Garrels II of Wasilla, Alaska, and Gregory Garrels of Salcha, Alaska, her stepson SCPO Michael A. Wiley USN ret. of Draper, Virginia, her stepdaughter Patricia Marie Wiley of Lakeland, Florida and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Catherine will be greatly missed. She is now in the hands of God, and at peace with no more pain and suffering.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution in Catherine's name may be made to the Hospice of the Comforter, 605 Montgomery Road Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 407-682-0808
http://www.HospiceoftheComforter.org.