Ella Whaley

(From Lockwood Funeral Chapel)

Ella Mae Whaley, of Lockwood, Missouri, departed this life to rejoin her husband Roger Whaley and son Tony Whaley for heaven's rest on January 1, 2023.

Ella was born on March 25, 1934, in Millersburg, Illinois. She attended Iowa Westlyn College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa where she met and married Roger on April 14, 1957. 

From Mt. Pleasant Iowa, Ella supported relocating their young family to Davenport Iowa, Independence Missouri, then to Lockwood in 1968, where She and Roger established Whaley’s Chiropractic.

Along the way Ella and Roger raised two sons Terry and Tony. Ella guided each of the boys through their school pursuits, and over the years stitched many Boy Scout badges to each of their uniforms. She would continue her motherly role with constant concerns and worry for her boys' often-questionable extracurricular pursuits, even as they became adults.

Ella never met a craft she didn't want to try. Her arts and crafts pursuits included ceramics, painting, and knitting miles of yarn into afghans for every member of the family in the 70’s. Ella also enjoyed her collections, all things collectable, from stuffed bears and Barbie dolls to Precious Moments figurines, and commemorative plates. She accumulated multiple editions of books on cooking, crafting, and even ‘how to books’ about collecting. She leaves behind three buildings full of items representing her passion for collecting. 

Ella’s community service and civic endeavors included years of participation in the Lockwood Lions Club, Business Professional Women’s Foundation, United Methodist Church activities, Chamber of Commerce activities, and the Lockwood Community Foundation. She was a strong advocate for Lockwood’s Main Street business and worked to support initiatives for a strong business district with her favorite being the Lockwood Christmas parade.

Over the past five months, her most passionate concern was for her wild birds getting fed while she was away. She soulfully missed attending her gang’s Friday night dinner gatherings in Lockwood and decorating her home with festive seasonal arrangements from her many holiday collections.

She is survived by her son, Terry (Jean) Whaley of Springfield; and two grandchildren, Tera Whaley of Wellington Florida, and Jeremiah Whaley of Lockwood. The additional family includes one great-granddaughter; one great-great-granddaughter; three sisters and brothers in-law; four nieces; and one nephew.

Memorial services will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, January 7, 2022, at the Lockwood United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lockwood United Methodist Church. Services are under the care of Lockwood Funeral Chapel.