Frances E. Whitman

1922-2009

St. Joseph, MO-Frances Elizabeth Whitman passed away April 5, 2009 in St. Joseph, MO. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, at McWilliams Funeral Home in Gallatin. Family visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Friends may call after 11:00 Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be at Mt. Ayr Cemetery near Altamont. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice or America’s Second Harvest in care of the funeral home.

Frances was born on January 28, 1922 to Ary Olen and Ella (Beam) Barker in rural Daviess County. She grew up in the  Altamont, MO area and attended the Altamont Consolidated School for 12 years, graduating in 1940. She also graduated from the Parisian Beauty School in St. Joseph, MO in March 1941. She married Thomas William (T.W.) Whitman on January 5, 1942.

She was of the Methodist faith and attended services at both the Altamont and Fairport churches. She was also a Deputy Recorder of Deeds for Daviess County several years. She then assisted T.W. with their farming and trucking business. Frances enjoyed genealogy, sewing, reading and keeping in touch with friends and family. Frances was a blessing to all who knew her and she will be greatly missed.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her husband T.W. Whitman on November 7, 1987, her special brothers Ray Barker and Lynn Barker and beloved sister-in-law Katherine (Rankin) Barker.

Survivors include daughters Sheryl Ann Shepherd and husband Dean of Agency, MO, and Sandra Lee Gatton of St. Joseph, MO; sister-in-law Lillian (Rippe) Barker; son-in-law Bill Gatton; grandchildren Shelley Rae Baker and husband Ken of Olathe, KS, Terry Monger and wife Lori, Shannon Gatton, Kelly and Bob Dynes, and Joel Rocha, all of St. Joseph, MO, Katelyn and Mark Christopher and Lance Michael Baker of the Kansas City area; great-grandchildren Kirbey Baker, Hannah Monger, Madelyn Christopher, Joshua Obermier, stationed in Afghanistan, and wife Isa and Rylee Rocha; three special nieces Susie (Connie) Walton, Francie (Jack) Tony and Judy (Danny) Gingerich whom she lovingly called "Her Girls" and many great nieces and nephews.

Online obituaries at www.mcwilliamsfuneralhomes.com