Edna Whitson

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Edna V. Whitson, 88, of Eureka, Ill., died Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Eureka.

She was born Oct. 20, 1922, in St. Louis, daughter of William and Marie Coffey Motley. She and Ira Whitson were married Nov. 26, 1945. He preceded her in death Jan. 15, 1974.

They raised six children on a farm in Silver Lake, Mo.

Survivors include a son and four daughters, Jonnie (George) Earle of Montpelier, Va., Bill Whitson of Kilmarnock, Va., Patricia (Dwight) Rauhala of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kathy Whitson of Eureka, Gail (Dean) Kimmich of Perryville; three sisters, Norma Roth of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Mary Williams of Minnith, Mo., Dorothy (Courtney) Brown of Kaskaskia Island, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Stella Whitson of Bourbon, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a brother, two infant children, and her oldest daughter, Sandra Ennis.

While raising her family, Edna worked in the home where she enjoyed gardening, cooking and sewing. Later she worked many years for H&R Block in Perryville.

She was a lifelong Methodist who especially enjoyed teaching Sunday school. She was a 4-H leader and a member of United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Perryville, with the Rev. Ann Saegessar officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Fork Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to Cedar Fork Cemetery Association.