Skip to content

Muriel "Mimi" Wheeler Connery Obituary



Mimi Connery and Tradewinds

Muriel "Mimi" Wheeler Connery, passed away suddenly at sixty-seven years of age on Friday, December 7th, 2007 to cardiac arrest.  Mimi was the daughter of the late J.P. Wheeler and his wife Margaret.  The Wheelers owned Tanglewood Farm in St. Anne, IL (Kankakee).  They raised the great three-gaited champion, WGC CH Bellisima (foaled in 1962 and sold by the Wheelers as a four-year-old), amongst others. Mimi was the maternal aunt of MBA Equestrians owner, Margo Baird-Valentine.

As a young girl and early into her adult riding career, Mimi showed such horses as the five-gaited Tradewinds, the five-gaited Mary Jo Stonewall, the three-gaited Majestic Monarch, and many others, and more recently showed the Hackney pony In a Heartbeat ("Chevy") for Margo's MBA Equestrians in the pleasure driving division at the 2004 Wisconsin Futurity and Mane Event Horse Shows. 

Mimi lost her husband, Michael, in 1997 to cancer.  She was a 40-year resident of the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, IL area.  She is survived by her sons, Michael and Jack (Ally), daughter Kara Grant (William) and three granddaughters. Margo's mother, Mary Wheeler Fraser, passed away in early 2002, thus the only surviving members of the Wheeler family are brothers, Donald (Sally) and John, a/k/a "Jack", (Polly).  During Mimi's riding years, she rode with such trainers as Don Brockman, Everett & Art Ledbetter, Eugene & Delores Oder, and Lloyd Teater.   


(Obituary courtesy of Brendan Heintz)




More Stories

  • Letter To The Editor

    Dear Kentucky State Fair Board,

    My name is Melissa Moore; I am an American Saddlebred, Hackney and Roadster horse trainer. I am a second generation horse trainer whose family is deeply immersed in this equine industry and has been for over 75 years.  

    Read More
  • UPHA Office Moving

    UPHA is relocating to a new address. Kindly update your records with our new location. The postal address is P.O. Box 3728, Midway, KY 40347 and the physical address is 123 East Main St, Midway, KY 40347. Read More
  • From the Desk of Edward R. “Hoppy” Bennett

    Dear Members of The American Saddlebred Community, 

    As predicted, we have received pushback from various members of the Saddlebred industry, namely the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA).  When we made our decision to replace the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with Equine Sports Council (ESC), we were aware of and discussed this pushback and moved forward with the changes, knowingly.

    Read More
  • River Ridge Is USEF Lite Rated

    Barbara Dunham, manager of the River Ridge Charity Horse Show, announced that the show has been granted USEF Lite status for its April 24-27 event at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    In response to recent developments surrounding the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is pleased to announce the launch of a dedicated webpage to serve as a news hub for its members. This webpage will provide timely updates and information as the situation evolves. Read More
  • Morgan Grand National Update On New Coliseum

    The Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show is one step closer to the beginning of a new era as progress on the new state-of-the-art coliseum in Oklahoma City continues on schedule. Read More
  • Update On Citrus Cup Regional - New Venue and Dates For 2024

    Join in for fun in the sun at Citrus Cup at its new location, the fabulous World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, on April 24-27, 2024. Fay Lowry will be judging all main ring classes. The new revised class schedule includes classes for Morgans, Saddlebreds, Hackney, Harness Pony, Open breed, carriage, ranch riding, and dressage divisions. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    Many of you received an email today from David Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues, that indicates a decision has already been made by the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) to change the governance of the World's Championship Horse Show from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).  Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is extending the National and National Amateur Futurity weanling nomination deadline until May 1, 2024... Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) has given the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) notice to terminate its 1995 agreement with the KSFB to provide support to the World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS). The termination notice was hand delivered to the KSFB on Friday, March 15. Read More