Helen Whittaker

Helen Marie Whittaker, 77, of Manito, Ill., died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004, at Morton Villa Nursing Home in Morton, Ill.

She was born April 21, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of William and Agnes Stallings Graham. She and Ellis Whittaker were married March 31, 1943, in Cape Girardeau. He died Nov. 4, 1988.

Whittaker worked at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She moved to Peoria, Ill., in 1969, where she worked at Champion Furnace.

Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Welter of Manito; a brother, Alfred Graham of Pekin, Ill.; a sister, Pauline Kinder of O'Fallon, Mo.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, two daughters, three brothers and a sister.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Phiffer officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.