Jeremy Raymond Wheeler

December 18, 1991 – April 12, 2018
Jeremy Raymond Wheeler, age 26, left us on April 12, 2018, while traveling in Thailand. He was born in Bozeman, Montana and lived his adventurous life in and around the Big Sky and Bozeman areas, attending Ophir School, Bozeman High and Montana State University.

Jeremy loved skiing in his hometown of Big Sky, mastering the nooks, outposts and jumps of the mountain, exploring the various treed and pinnacled cliffs and working endlessly in the terrain parks.

He looked forward to trips to his family's lake home in Michigan each summer, spending long days gracefully waterskiing, wakeboarding and fishing, and sitting around a night fire amid great conversation. He loved climbing, camping, golfing with that beautiful swing, yoga and spending outdoor time with his many friends and family. He never met a dog that wasn't a friend and he had a real talent for interacting with children. He treasured the recent arrival of his infant nephew Abram and had looked forward to teaching him so many things. He loved to go hunting with his dad and brother, but all suspect it was mostly for the camaraderie, laughs and annual bonding it provided.

He enjoyed a great variety of music concerts, a favorite over the years, a trip to Seattle with his dad to see the Rolling Stones. He had recently taught himself to play the keyboard, guitar and mandolin and spent many late nights learning new songs and exploring different music genres.

He loved the peacefulness and satisfaction of fly fishing Montana's streams and found great beauty in the rushing water, canyon vistas and the language of the fish themselves.

He was an understanding and loyal friend and made friends easily, wherever he went.

He was a bright light to his beloved family, the closest of them calling him, "Ray" and his striking blue eyes and infectious, engaging smile, had the ability to light up a room or an entire event. His attentive personality let you know that he was interested in you and in what you had to say. He had a tender heart and over time wrote many thoughtful, treasured notes to the loved ones in his life. He is gone from this life too early and forever there will be a hole of loss in the hearts of those who loved him. He is reunited now with the beloved dogs he lost and grieved for over the years: Pete, Grace, Sage and Lance. It must be, that after they rushed to greet him, they are now curled up together again, on the furniture and under the covers.

Jeremy is survived by: his father and mother, Brian and Mary Wheeler of Big Sky, Montana; his older brother Daniel Wheeler (Miranda), their infant son, Abram, of Bozeman, Montana; paternal grandfather John Wheeler of Marblehead, Massachusetts; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and beloved friends across the country. His current family dogs, Margo and Jack, will miss the unique rough housing and companionship that Jeremy was so good at providing them. His family asks to keep Jeremy's memory alive and honored by speaking of him fondly and often, especially when in the beauty of the outdoors, hiking, fishing, skiing, camping and sitting around a campfire. We are grateful that we had him for a time and that there are many treasured memories of him to relive again and again.

A Catholic Mass for Jeremy will be held at 1 p.m. at the Big Sky Chapel, on Saturday, June 9, 2018. A celebration of his life will follow from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Montana Jack at the Big Sky Resort.

Donations may be made in Jeremy's name to these non-profit organizations that were close to his heart and that he supported with his time: Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter: 1549 E. Cameron Bridge Rd, Bozeman, Montana 59718 (EIN: 23-7375919); OR Special Olympics Montana: 710 1 Avenue North, Great Falls, Montana 59401 (EIN: 52-0889518).