Stephen Whaley

Stephen D. Whaley, 62, of Jackson passed away Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Oct. 26, 1946, in Kingman, Ariz., to Donald and Maxine Meehan Whaley. He was a 1965 graduate of Mohave County Union High School.

Steve's grandparents resided in Jackson, and he enjoyed spending summers with them. Even after he became a U.S. Marine, he continued to travel back to Jackson, and that's where he fell in love with Pamela Priest. They were married Dec. 2, 1968, in Honolulu while Steve was on leave from Vietnam.

Steve spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was master sergeant, working in disbursing, administration, and then as an inspector in the 4th Marine Division. He always felt grateful to have served in only five locations: Vietnam; Kansas City, Mo.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Japan; and New Orleans.

In 1985, the Whaley family settled back in Jackson. Pam established her beauty shop, Pam's World, in their home on West Adams Street, and Steve went to work for the Missouri Division of Family Services in Cape Girardeau. In 1989 he began working at the U.S. post office in Jackson where he carried the mail several years in uptown Jackson and then worked inside the post office. He retired in 2003 due to his health.

Steve was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Steve's immediate survivors include his loving wife of 40 years, Pam of Jackson; a son, Todd Whaley (Gaye Laird), his son Tyson Whaley and stepson Devin Eastman, all of Jackson; and two daughters, Teresa (Bobby) Blessing, her daughter Taylor Stevens and stepsons Cody, Robert and Nick Blessing, all of Perryville, Mo.; Mandy Whaley of Jackson; family friend, Rachel Sprandel of Jackson; and last, but not least, Brandy Sue.

He is also survived by his stepmother, Charlotte Whaley of Cottonwood, Ariz.; a maternal aunt, Betty Meehan of Jackson; two cousins, Dan Meehan and Peggy Meehan of Jackson; two stepbrothers, Norman Rowden of Kingman, Jeff Rowden of Ohio; two stepsisters, Debbie Blevins of Phoenix and Julie McCormick of Apache Junction, Ariz.

Pam's family includes her mother, Marilyn "Snook" (the late Paul) Priest of Jackson; two sisters, Paula (Terry) Kurre of Massillon, Ohio, their daughters Erika (Bryan) Nash of Nashville, Tenn., and Katherine Kurre of Massillon; Para (Jeff) Snyder, their sons Blake, Paul, Tristin and Cameron, all of Phoenix; a brother-in-law, Gary (the late Penny) Leirer of Jackson and daughters, Amber (John) Hoffstetter of Kansas City and Samantha Leirer of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Whaley; his mother, Maxine Whaley; an uncle, J.D. "Bus" Meehan; two cousins, Doug and Dick Meehan; and a sister-in-law, Pat Priest Agnew.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. David Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery with full military honors.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Paul Lutheran School or Saxony Lutheran High School.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.