Whitesell

HOLTON-Thelma Mae Whitesell, 76, of Holton died Wednesday, May 23, 2007. She was born May 17, 1931 in Iola, KS, the daughter of Cecil F. and Lottie Veneva Hosler Kern.
She graduated from Denison High School in 1948. She had lived most of her life in the Denison and Holton communities. She had also lived in Topeka, California and Colorado. Mrs. Whitesell was a homemaker. She also worked with her husband at Don and Duane's Welding and Repair, later called Don and Marion's, specializing in welding, repair and machinery dealership for over 24 years.
She married Donald Lee Whitesell on December 29, 1956 in Stillwell, OK. He survives. Other survivors include 4 daughters Donna Mae Whitesell-Patterson and her husband, Steve of Holton, Sherry Lee Whitesell-McBride and her husband, Terry of Piedmont, OK, Glenda Sue Whitesell-Larkins and her husband, Ken of Belvue, KS, Dixie Ann Whitesell-Winter and her husband, John of Concordia, KS; 2 sisters Lee A. Collins of Holton, KS, June I. Ducello of Roseburg, OR; 3 brothers Bob D. Kern, Merle D. Kern, Roy Kern all of Topeka; and 9 grandchildren, Katie Jo Patterson-Ingles, Casey Patterson, Lyndee Patterson, Annie Patterson, Justin McBride, Matt McBride, Abby McBride, Levi Larkins, and Lake Winter. She was preceded in death by 2 brothers Donald L. Kern and an infant brother.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 25, 2007 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Interment will be in the Netawaka Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Holton Community Hospital Hospice or Jackson County Friends of Hospice c/o Mercer Funeral Home, Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.