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Obituary: Beverly “Bev” Freese Wheeler

Beverly “Bev” Freese Wheeler

Beverly Anita Burk was born in Leadville, Colorado, in the old St. Vincent Hospital to Snell and Mildred Burk.

Beverly passed away peacefully the morning of April 27, 2016 after a long valiant battle with cancer at the age of 73.

Bev appropriately said she was “born and raised” in Leadville. She was crowned Miss Moly from 1964-65, and advanced to be a contestant in the 1965 Miss Colorado Pageant. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree as an art major and a teaching degree from Colorado State University, she somehow ended up in the Real Estate industry doing real estate investment research, and setting up a research library.

Being a “mountain gal” was just a part of Bev. Beverly had two children with husband, Jim Freese. Raising their children, Laura and Jason, “in the mountains”, in Dillon, Colorado. She loved that she was lucky enough not to have to work while they were young — being involved in her children’s activities, skiing, scouts, 4H, sports, etc. After a divorce, she again worked in Real Estate and the mortgage industry, being named in the mortgage industry’s Who’s Who before she retired.

After living in the Denver area and doing “fix and flip” houses for a number of years, she married, Tom Wheeler III from Summit County. Once again moving back to the mountains, in Frisco, Colorado, they enjoyed a very active retirement with lots of dancing, friends and traveling throughout the world. Bev loved working in her large yard and spent time on her flowerbeds in both Frisco and Golden.

During her long battle with cancer, Bev displayed an enormous positive attitude, stubborn determination, and a fierce desire to “beat this monster.” And she definitely enjoyed what life had left to offer. Unfortunately, the disease finally won and Bev died from complications associated with her illness.

She is survived by her husband, Tom Wheeler, and both of her children. Son- Jason Freese and his wife Sarah, daughter- Laura, and loving brother, S. Gordon Burk.

She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and first husband, Jim Freese.

Services will be held Friday, May 6, 2015 at Three Trees Chapel at 13410 W. Arbor Place, Littleton, CO 80127. The chapel will open for a pre-service gathering at 1:30 p.m. and the service will begin at 2 p.m. There will also be a reception following the Service.

Friends are invited to share a memory during the service as this is also a celebration of life.

Rather than flowers, Beverly requested donations may be made to

The Summit County Elk’s Club at: P.O. Box 515, Silverthorne, CO 80498


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