Betty J. Whaley: 1932 – 2009
Betty J. Whaley, 76, a resident of rural Albion and wife of Ralph Whaley, died at 9:10 a. m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at the family residence in Noble Township following an extended illness.
Mrs. Whaley was born in Angola on December 12, 1932, a daughter of Cecil and Mildred (Morrison) Kime. She spent her formative years in Williams County, Ohio, and graduated from Montgomery High School in 1948.
As a young woman she worked as an executive secretary, and was married on July 28, 1951 in Angola to Ralph Whaley. The couple spent a brief period in Ohio and in LaGrange before moving to their present home in Noble Township in 1956.
A homemaker for most of her adult life, she had also been an Avon representative. However, the labor of love in her life was operating the Happy Hill Feline Haven–a rescue shelter for cats, and was fondly known as “The Cat Lady.”
She was a member of the Merriam Christian Chapel, and had served as the church’s missions secretary for many years.
The surviving relatives include her husband Ralph, to whom she was married for over 57 years; her daughters Linda (Roger) Wirt of Duchesne, Utah and Rita Whaley of Quito, Ecuador; a sister Donna Vreeland of Reading, Mich; and a brother Victor (Kathy) Yoder of Delton, Mich.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Larry Yoder.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a. m. on Saturday, March 7, 2009, at the Merriam Christian Chapel with Pastor Terry L. Zolman, officiating.
The family will receive friends in the church multi-purpose room immediately following the services.
Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the Merriam Christian Chapel Mission Fund, or to the Noble County Humane Shelter.
*********************************
To leave a condolence for the family in Mrs. Whaley’s memory, please click on “Condolences” below. . .
February 27th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Ralph & Family,
It is with deepest sympathy and sorrow that we send this to you. Although we cannot ease your grief, please know that we are holding you constantly in our thoughts and prayers.
Kevin & Billie Sullivan
Indianapolis
February 28th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Dear Ralph, Rita & Linda,
We continue to remember all of you in prayer.
Betty was a gentle beautiful lady and a dear friend. We will miss her greatly but know we will see her again.
Because of Calvery!
Bruce & Cindy
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 am
Dear Ralph, Rita, and Linda,
We are very sorry to hear that Betty has passed. We are praying for you all during this time. She has a warm place in our hearts. Praise the Lord that she is now with our heavenly father.
Love,
Barry, Susan, Kaitlyn, Haley, Justin, Jenna Leatherman
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Rita and Linda,
I just now heard about your mother. I am so sorry for your loss. Please convey my sympathy to your father. I will be praying for all of you. I hope you are all well in your lives. I wish for you the best, Karen
March 4th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Dear Ralph, Rita and Linda:
I am sorry that we will not be able to be at the memorial service on Satuday. Jean and I have a committment in Chicago. I would love to see you all again and catch up on your lives.
I have very fond memories of the Whaley family. You helped me a lot and I was always impressed with your parents’ common sense and ability to build things. I remember your kitties. We have 3 now. We also have a Jack Russell dog. He sleeps with one of the cats but the other 2 cats were adults when the dog arrived and they don’t like him. The one he sleeps with was a kitten when it arrived and our dog was an adult, so we taught the dog not to hurt the kitten and they are best friends now.
May God give your hearts peace and warmth. Both of Jean’s parents’ have died. Her mom died when Jean was only 2 years old. My father and my brother both died in 2005.
Drop me an email when things settle down.
March 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Rita and Family,I am truely sorry for your great loss. Even though I’ve never met your mother,she seems to have been a very loving woman.Take care of yourselves and am thinking of you and your family in these trying times.
March 6th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Whaley Family:
I can not even begin to tell you what Betty has meant to me over the years that I have known her. Her gentle nature and inspiration I love so much. Her fierce comittment to her beloved kitties. Every piece of mail I ever recieved from Betty was signed “Betty and Kitties”. So much a part of her.
I know Betty no longer suffers and has renewed life. I feel her presence and know her spirit lives among us. This brings me great comfort.
Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you. Know that I am here if you need me. With much love and appreciation.
Amanda Simpson-Scheitlin
March 6th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I only saw Betty once. That was many years ago. I brought her a yellow tiger stray cat that we couldn’t take care of because we already had 4 cats. She was so sweet and, of course, took her in. Several years later we had another stray. I wanted to take him toher but she said why don’t you keep him for a few weeks. Of course she was right. Caesar is now a happy and healthy 12 year old that has given us great comfort over the years, especially during the recent loss of my wife’s mother. You all will be in our prays for your loss.
March 8th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
You don’t know me, but Betty touched our lives. I adopted a kitty (Maraca) from her as a birthday gift for my husband. That was 11 years ago and Maraca is as healthy and playfull as when she was young. She was 3 years old when we adopted her and Betty had adopted her out once before but the people couldn’t keep her when the moved. Before that she lived with a lady who had a bunch of cats and dogs.
She was very scared when she came to us and I was a little afraid of her because of a cat that attacked me repeatedly as a young child. After that I had always had dogs, so a kitty was new to me. Now my husband says for being a dog person, I sure am loved by the cats. Maraca and her brother Moose (a Maine coon) follow me everywhere and have me well trained.
Just in the last few weeks, I had thoughts of contacting your mom to tell her how happy Maraca is and how well she is doing for 14. This has been a lesson for me to honor my intuitions from now on. I’m sorry now that Betty didn’t get to here a success story and know she was appreciated.
Death ends a life, but not a relationship. Her spirit will live with you and so many others forever. Bless you all.