Dorothy J. Wheatley- Raper:  

~~My Life~~ After graduating from good old Effingham High School. I worked at G.C. Murphy's Store in downtown Effingham. Then in 1953 I married Wayne Wheatley of Wheeler, Illinois. We lived in Gibson City, Illinois, where our three daughters were born. Then in 1965 we moved to Salida, Colorado in hopes the different climate would help our one daughters asthma. Good move, it helped. Our first home and venture into business here, was a Log Cabin Motel. We also had a package liquor store. A delicatessen, which my brother ran, and my hubby also was in a gas station business along with selling Yamaha motor cycles, and snow mobiles. Lots of activity. I was divorced in 1980, and continued running my Consignment Shop which I started in 1972. I retired from there in 1999. During this time of living in Salida, I was blessed by a granddaughter, Jamie and a grandson, Chad. Now Jamie & her husband Mike have made me great grandma to two special boys, Collin and Carson. I thank God everyday for my wonderful family, which includes my son in laws. In 2000, I got married after being alone for 20 years. Carl and I live in Florida. We like the warm weather, as it is good for our aches and pains, gifts of the GOLDEN YEARS. We both miss our families very much. We do go to Colorado to visit with my family and many friends. We also visit in Illinois with Carls two children, and friends. Was back in Effingham this summer (2002) to visit my brother, and one Uncle. Boy how that town has changed. Drove by EHS, and it still looks a lot the same, but it is now being used for a Junior High school...Expand for more