In Memory of Lorene Whatley

Lorene Whatley

February 22, 1914 - April 17, 2012

Lorene Lucky Whatley, 98, of Temple passed away Tuesday April 17, 2012, in a local nursing home. Services will be at 2:00 P.M. Friday April 20, 2012 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple with the Dr. Leroy Kemp officiating.

Burial will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park in Temple.

A life-long resident of Bell County, she was born February 22, 1914, to Jim and Delia Young Lucky in Coryell County. She attended school in Stringtown. She married John Franklin Whatley on September 23, 1933. They farmed in the early years of their marriage and later became owners of Jenkins Whatley Farm Implement Company and Blackland Farm Implement Company. Mrs. Whatley was a devoted homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed time at home with her family doing gardening, cooking and sewing. Her grandsons thought her chocolate chip cookies were the very best in the world, and we all knew she made the absolute best pie crust ever. She was a remarkable seamstress, and every garment she made was detailed to perfection. She loved to shop, and when she could no longer go to stores herself, she would send “the girls” to shop and return items for her when they did not quite suit her. She was a long time member of Heights Baptist and served as a Sunday School teacher and sang in the Golden Heights Choir for many years.

She will be greatly missed and forever remembered by her two daughters, Gwenda Downing and her husband Dub of Troy, and Jan Johnson and her husband Ken of Belton; five grandsons, John Downing and his wife Carla, Douglas Downing and his wife Shellie both of Troy, Kenny Johnson and his wife Glenda of Belton, Brian Johnson and Grant Johnson of Dallas; and eight great-grandchildren, Bo Johnson, Ashley Downing, Trinton Downing, Kent Johnson, Clayton Downing, Blake Johnson, Raley Downing and Chance Downing. Mrs. Whatley was preceded in death by her husband on June 12, 2009, and seven siblings.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. Friday at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home.