Mary Jane married the love of her life Bill Whitley on April 24, 1948. Together they shared three children, Kelly, Kevin, and Kendall.
She was a member at All Saints Catholic Church, where she was involved within the church and her Catholic faith. Mary Jane was a huge Wichita State Shockers fan and never missed a basketball game for over 30 years. For over 35 years, she was her husband's biggest fan while he pitched horseshoe for the Sunflower Horseshoe Club, traveling the country to national horseshoe tournaments.
Mary Jane loved being a mom and never missed any of her boys' games. She enjoyed baking her famous strawberry pies, loved her backyard, had an amazing green thumb and enjoyed sipping a cup of coffee on the back deck admiring the beauty. Her proudest title was "MaMa". She doted and loved all of her grandchildren, the "Proof" is in the stacks of $2 bills they received for any and every holiday.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Kevin Whitley; two brothers, James and Ben Gieber; and two sisters, Rachel Brown and Waunetta Watson.
Survivors include her husband of 76 YEARS!, William "Bill" Whitley; two sons, Kelly (Jo) Whitley and Kendall "Kabe" Whitley; grandchildren: Chad, Heather, Elizabeth, Austin, Madison, Remington, Haidyn, and Cooper; great-grandchildren: Beau, Ruby Jane, Casey, and Serenity; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Catholic Church, 3205 E. Grand St., Wichita, Kansas 67218. https://www.allsaintswichita.com/
A celebration of life service will be held on Monday July 22, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 W. Highway 54, Wichita, Kansas 67209. A graveside service will follow immediately after the service at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Garden of Freedom.
