Merlene Whorton

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Merlene Whorton, 79, of Chaffee died Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Jan. 30, 1928, in Selmer, Tenn., daughter of John Edward and Annie Jones Wyatt. She and James T. Whorton were married in September 1947. He died June 16, 1980.

Whorton was a presser at Thorngate Ltd. in Chaffee, retiring in 1990. She was formerly of Morley, Mo., and was a member of Ladies Auxiliary to Morley VFW Post 5368.

Survivors include four sons, Loyd Whorton of Cape Girardeau, Roger Whorton of East Prairie, Mo., James Whorton of Chaffee, Mardie Whorton of Morley; six daughters, Sue Glenn of East Prairie, Peggy Taylor of Morley, Marvalene Whorton and Teresa Whorton of Chaffee, Margaret Yarbrough of Hartman, Ark., Loretta Gadberry of Blodgett, Mo.; a sister, Helen Baccus of Sikeston, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and three great-stepgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, six brothers and five sisters.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran, Mo.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Randy Conn officiating. Burial will be in New Morley Cemetery at Morley.