Dana Elizabeth Bailey Wheeler

Dana Elizabeth Bailey Wheeler (nee Buell) of Ashland, Ohio passed away on 17 June after a long struggle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at the age of 76. Born in Lorain and raised in Vermilion, Ohio, Dana was the youngest of five children of Margaret (Sanders) and Alfred Buell. She attended Kent State University and graduated from Eastern Oregon University with degrees in Art and Drama. She earned an advanced degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. A creative and passionate person by nature, Dana taught art, music, and produced creative works in paint, ceramics, yarn, and to the delight of all, with food. Later in life, she converted to Catholicism, a faith that gave her both comfort and concern during her last days as she struggled internally with changes in the church and the nation. In addition to her creative passions, Dana loved to take walks, travel (particularly to England), garden, and have chats around the kitchen table. She was also a voracious reader, consuming books by the 100s. She was predeceased by son Brandon in 1969, parents Margaret (Sanders) and Alfred Buell, brother David Buell of Milan, MI, brother-in-law George Thompson, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Edie and Reid Wheeler. She leaves behind husband of 47 years Barry Wheeler, son Demian Bailey (Tiffany), grandchildren Zoey and Aaron Bailey of Corvallis, OR, sister Kathleen of Bloomington, IN, and sister Alice and brother Leon (Jaqueline) of Vermilion, OH. She also leaves many cherished nieces and nephews and many cousins. In her last months of life she received extra love and care from her sister Alice, niece Lisa Woods and friends Karen Tracy and Ann Jacobs. A memorial will be held on Monday August 29, 2022 at 10am at Maple Grove outside of Vermilion, with arrangements being made by the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home in Ashland. Online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.