Wilson Little Funeral Home
Purcell-Newcastle, McClain Co., OK
(permission granted)

Ruby Whatley was born in the country just outside of Purcell, on May 22, 1924. Her parents were Daniel William Shea and Helen Edmae (Dumas) Shea. She was the oldest of 9 children, including Dorothy, Bill, Laverne, Dan, Bobby Joe, Ralph, Betty Ann, and Linda. She always loved school but she had to quit in the eighth grade to take care of her younger siblings.

Ruby married Kenneth Whatley on September 14, 1940. They were married 56 years, before Kenneth passed away in 1997. Together they had three children, Norma Jean, J erry Dan, and Sandy. She was a good wife and the BEST Mama. She cooked every meal, much of which came from the garden, sewed all of her life and when they kids were little, she made most of their clothes. Ruby learned about working hard at a very young age and continued to do so for the rest of her life. She cooked at several cafes and was head cook at Hawthorne (South) School for many years until she had to retire in 1973 due to a heart condition. After she retired, she stayed busy with a multitude of things. She liked to fish, she made quilts, she grew her garden, she canned, made pickles, and made every kind of jelly, she tended to the chickens, she loved to just watch the cows in the pasture, and most of all she loved to be with her family.

On Saturday afternoon, June 12, 2021, Ruby Shea Whatley, after 97 years of loving and being loved, left this earth to see Jesus and all those she loved in heaven.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth; her parents Dan and Helen Shea; brothers Bill and Ralph Shea, sisters Dorothy Simeroth, Laverne Claunch, and Betty Ann Smith; grandchildren Kevin McCaskill, Bro Tracey, Christony Austin, and Josh Whatley.

She is survived by her children, Norma Tracey and husband Ronnie, Jerry Whatley and wife Shirley, Sandy McCaskill and husband Terry; her grandchildren John, Kenny, Georgie, Kim, and Danny, Susie, David, Chrissy, and Kelli, Mike, Chelle, and Jeff. Great-grandkids and Great-great grandkids too numerous to name but she treasured them all!

Rosary Service are scheduled for 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Little’s Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Purcell. Interment will follow at the Hillside Cemetery. Send online condolences @ www.wilsonlittle.com.