Eunice Faye Wheat Futrell

Eunice Faye Wheat Futrell, age 92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on May 5, 2026. A woman of grace, intellect, and deep faith, Eunice lived a beautiful, rich life, leaving the world a far better place for having been in it.

Early Life and Roots Eunice was born on January 9, 1934, on her grandfather’s farm in Tuskahoma, Oklahoma. She spent her first year in a board-and-batten house on Salt Creek, a tributary of the Kiamichi River, near the council house of the Choctaw Nation. Following the Great Depression, her parents, James Fearney and Dessie Burkham Wheat, returned to Dallas. In 1937, the family grew with the arrival of her twin siblings, Walter Lee and Wanda Sue. The family eventually settled in East Dallas, where Mr. Wheat built a career as a furniture dealer and auctioneer. Eunice was a bright student, attending several schools, including the old San Jacinto School and Mesquite Elementary. Her spiritual journey began early; at age nine, she accepted Christ as her Savior at Emanuel Baptist Church.

Education and Love In 1947, the family moved to Hill High Farm, a place that would remain in the Wheat family for nearly 50 years. A gifted musician and a "class favorite," Eunice graduated from Mesquite High in 1951.

Her life took a romantic turn when she began dating James Snyder Futrell during her senior year. While James served in the Navy during the Korean War, Eunice attended Baylor University as a vocal performance major. Their bond grew through a steady stream of love letters and an eventual proposal. Choosing to be closer to home, Eunice transferred to SMU to study business. The couple married on October 24, 1953, at The First Baptist Church of Mesquite, celebrating their reception at the beloved Hill High Farm.

A Legacy of Learning Eunice and James raised their three children—James David, Mary Katharine, and John Wheat—on Hill High Farm, where the children enjoyed 17 years of freedom and country adventure.

Once her children were in school, Eunice began a distinguished career in education. Starting as a secretary at Elsie Shands Elementary, she was encouraged by a dear friend to pursue her teaching degree. She graduated from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M - Commerce) and began her teaching career at Florence Black Elementary before returning to Shands, where she taught sixth grade for twelve years. Never one to stop learning, she later earned her M.A. and served as a dedicated school counselor at J.C. Austin Elementary for 13 years, retiring in 2000. Her career was defined by the countless lives she enriched and the wonderful memories she left behind in the district.

Community and Personal Passions In her retirement, Eunice remained a pillar of her community. She was a dedicated member of the Mesquite Women’s Club, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (Hiram Bennett Chapter), and a staunch supporter of the Historic Mesquite, Inc., and the Mesquite Association of Retired School Employees. Her faith remained central to her life as a member of the Faith Class at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church.

Eunice was a woman of many interests, ranging from genealogy research and Bible study to the daily challenge of Sudoku and crossword puzzles. She found joy in antiques, spirited conversation at Women’s Club luncheons, and—most importantly—the company of her family and her loyal Border Collie, Quincy.

Family and Remembrance Eunice is survived by her sister-in-law, Frances Reagan Wheat; her children: James David (Debby), Mary Katharine (Stan) Jovicich, and John Wheat (Sherry). She leaves behind a legacy in her grandchildren: David Chad Futrell (Jennifer), Chelsie Elise (Tim) Rosser, Katharine King Jovicich, John Adam Jovicich, James Henry Jovicich, Autumn Renea Futrell, Zoe Lee Futrell, and Steven Campbell Futrell; as well as two great-grandsons, Dylan Ryan Rosser and Cason Layne Rosser, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Walter Lee Wheat and Wanda Sue Hicks, and by her husband of 26 years, James Snyder Futrell.

Visitation will be held at Grove Hill Funeral Home, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228, US, on May 13, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will take place at First Presbyterian Church, 1028 S Beltline Rd, Mesquite, TX 75149, US, on May 14, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.