Glenda Whittley

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Glenda Violet Whittley, 87, of Sikeston died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born March 13, 1922, in Reyno, Ark., to the late Charlie E. and Rosa Eddington Kirby, she was a member of Blodgett Baptist Church and had also attended Miner Baptist Church. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, owner and operator of The Pink Palace in Vanduser, Mo., for many years, and retired from the Missouri Delta Medical Center, where she worked in Central Service. She enjoyed making Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for her family and friends and had a giving spirit, being a "mother" to anyone in need.

She was first married to Benjamin David Cook, who preceded her in death.

On Aug. 23, 1940, in Bloomfield, Mo., she was married to Jesse Whittley, who preceded her in death Aug. 16, 1993.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Jesse Whittley Jr., and by three brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Benny and Vera Cook of Oran, Mo.; five daughters, Gene and the late Jimmie Emerson, Louise and the late Raymond Coatney, Sue and the late Kenny Webb and Terrye and Linwood Mitchell, all of Sikeston, and Shelia and Billy Henson of Springfield, Mo.; two half brothers, W.F. Kirby of Belleville, Ill., and Sterling Kirby of Anaheim, Calif.; and a half sister, Shirley Collier of Glasco, Ky. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, with the Rev. Ron Spell, pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church of Sikeston, officiating.

Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery near Morley, Mo. Active pallbearers will be Jeff Cook, Kevin Webb, Mark Coatney, Tim Emerson, Jeremy Suver and Cody Henson. Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Coatney, Rick Emerson, Michael Emerson, Tim Taylor, Phillip Sturgeon, John Sturgeon and Charlie Carter.