Mary Wilhite

Mary Elizabeth Brockmire Wilhite, age 85, passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

Mary was born July 9, 1924, to Fred Brockmire and Anna Colene Niedling Brockmire in Egypt Mills. She and John R. Wilhite Jr. married on July 22, 1945. He preceded her in death Nov. 3, 2003.

She attended Trinity Lutheran School and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. Mary graduated from Central High School and went on to receive her registered nurse degree from Saint Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. She was a member of the Nurse Cadet Corps in World War II. Upon graduation she worked in private duty nursing at Southeast Missouri Hospital, Saint Francis Medical Center and for Dr. Harold O. Ridings.

She was a member of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church.

She is survived by a brother, Dan L. (Helen) Brockmire of Collinsville, Ill.; a niece, Mary Tonka of Tacoma, Wash.; a nephew, Dan D. Brockmire of Elk Grove, Calif.; great-nieces Lori Cooper of Yelm, Wash., Lansida Brockmire of Carmel, Calif., Libby Booth and Kitten Sineath of Jacksonville, Fla.; a great-nephew, Eric Tonka of Tacoma; and five great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Helen Brockmire of Memphis, Tenn.; a sister-in-law and nephew, Mary Dean Wilhite and Arthur Wilhite of Cape Girardeau; and a brother-in-law, Kenneth Detherage of Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a sister, a brother and a nephew.

Visitation will be Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel. Funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at the chapel, with the Rev. Paul Short officiating.

Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing or to St. Andrews Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.