Dorothy L. Whisler passed away Oct. 28, 2010, at Legacy Park, Peabody.
Dorothy L. Waggy was born June 19, 1914, in Walton. She grew up in rural Burns. Her parents were Chester A. and Leora (Wagoner) Waggy. There were seven children in the family: Alice, Bernice, Rodger, Dorothy, Sherwood, Betty, and Clyde.
Dorothy moved from the Burns area to Peabody to attend high school after completing eighth grade and lived with her aunt Cora Padgett. She met Quintis “Jack” Whisler while attending high school and they were married Aug. 16, 1930, at Newton. To this union, three children were born: Barbara Lucille, Judith Kay, and Jerry Dean. In 1952 through 1953, Dorothy and Quintis built a new home at 702 N. Walnut St. She made her home there until 1994 when Dorothy moved to Indian Guide Terrace.
Dorothy was a homemaker and a great cook and did a lot of sewing of clothing for her children. She and Quintis worked at whatever was available during the Great Depression. In 1941, Jack and Dorothy purchased Cockley Bakery in Peabody. The store included a recreation area where teens gathered after school. Dorothy and Jack ran the bakery until World War II began and Jack went to work at Beech in Wichita. Dorothy worked at Covell Variety Store, downtown Peabody, for a short time. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, she worked at Paramount Products in Peabody, making airplane parts for aircraft plants in Wichita. In1952, she went to work at Boeing in Wichita, where she worked until 1970.
Dorothy was active in Peabody Business Professional Women, which was instrumental in starting a senior center in Peabody. Dorothy was a site manager at Peabody Senior Center from 1975 through 1990. She volunteered at the center until February 2008 when she moved to Legacy Park. As recently as Oct. 21, Dorothy attended the 50th anniversary of Senior Citizens of Marion County in Marion.
When Dorothy moved to Legacy Park, she became a very active resident, taking part in most of the activities that were offered. Her favorite activity was bowling at Peabody Lanes where she had a high score of 209. Dorothy was a member of Peabody United Methodist Church, Terra B Circle, and the United Methodist Women.
She played an important role as grandmother to Jeff and David Mellott, Michael Whisler, and Michelle Whisler McConnell. She enjoyed attending school programs, ball games, and anything in which her grandchildren were involved. She was always interested in hearing what was going on with each of them.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Quintis, in 1991; daughter Barbara Whisler Church in 1953; and son Jerry Whisler and daughter-in-law Carol Ann Bybee Whisler in 1967. Her parents and siblings Alice, Bernice, Rodger, and Sherwood also preceded her.
She is survived by daughter Judy and husband Alan Mellott of Peabody; grandchildren Jeff and wife Dawn Mellott, David Mellott, and Kris Craig of Andover; Michael Whisler of Houston; Michelle and husband Tony McConnell of Maryville, Tenn.; great-grandchildren Jessica, Jordan, Kaylee, and Layne Mellott, Kristen (Whisler) Martin, and Leann and Matthew McConnell; two great-great-grandchildren, Erin and Madison Riley; a brother, Clyde and wife Virginia Waggy of El Dorado; a sister, Betty McClay of Ottawa; a sister-in-law, Arlene Kirchhofer of Kansas City; and many relatives and friends.
A funeral was 10:30 a.m. Nov. 1, 2010, at Peabody United Methodist Church.
Interment was at Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Peabody.
Memorials may be given to Peabody Senior Center, 126 N. Walnut St., Peabody.