Jessie Lloyd Whitaker

Jessie Lloyd Whitaker, the son of Jessie and Carrie (Kirby) Whitaker, was born April 22, 1922, in Reyno, Ark., and passed away on Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, at Freeman East Hospital in Joplin. He was a long-time resident of Nevada.

He was united in marriage to the former Delores Calvert on Sept. 29, 1967, in Vernon, Texas. Mr. Whitaker attended the Nevada Assembly of God. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post No. 2175 and the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Delores Whitaker, of the home; one son, Jim Whitaker, of Nevada; three stepsons, Mike Starrick, of the state of South Carolina, Danny Starrick, of Mesa, Ariz., and Don Christen, of Nashville, Tenn.; three daughters, Wilma Brown, of Milo, Barbara Carter, of Clayton, Ind., and Sharon Blackman, of Corning, Ark. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Frank and Ray Whitaker; and five sisters, Fronie Whitaker, Della Cates, Mae Parker, Gella Hagar and Wanda Faulker.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m., at Evergreen Memorial Chapel with pastor Ted Furry officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Fort Scott National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund in care of Evergreen Memorial Chapel, P.O. Box 894, Nevada, MO 64772.