Mary Alice (Hitchcock) Whistler
Marriages
Joseph York Whistler
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D - September 1, 2013
Friends and family mourn the
passing of Mary Alice Hitchcock
Whistler on August 9, 2013. She
has charmed everyone who has
known her for the past 88 years,
and she will be sadly missed.
Mary was born October 30,
1924, in Martins Ferry, Ohio to
Dr. John Lincoln Hitchcock and his wife, Alice Caldwell Hitchcock.
She grew up in many different cities in Ohio, from Youngstown to
Kelly's Island, where she graduated from high school. Her first job
out of high school was building B-29 bombers for the American war
effort in Cleveland. When she turned 20, she joined the Army and
served both at home from Arizona to South Dakota, and abroad in
Bad Tolz, Germany. She married an American service man, only to
lose him in the Korean War, leaving her to make her way alone with
two small children.
In 1955, she met Air Force Lieutenant Joseph York Whistler, who
was captured by her beauty, her sense of humor, and the Lobster a la
Newburg she dished up for supper without batting an eye. This despite
the deeply landlocked Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma
where they met. They married and brought another three children
into the world. They travelled as a family in military style,
living in seven states, Japan and Norway over the course of their
marriage.
Mary loved music and dancing, from the jitterbugs of her teens
through many years of square dancing. She only needed a song with
a beat and her feet would be tapping. She loved singing harmony
with her sister and friends. She loved sewing, knitting and crocheting
for her children and grandchildren. She loved the mountains and
the high country surrounding Leadville.
She was dedicated to the education of her family, offering financial
and moral support through four University of Missouri degrees.
She often joked that she'd paid so much to Mizzou that the school
owed her a degree as well.
She was fearless and funny and cool.
Her son, Army SSG Leonard George Whistler preceded Mary in
death.
She leaves behind her devoted husband of 57 years, Joseph York
Whistler; daughters, Lenette Nance and Cindy (Paul) Bickler, and
sons, Dr. Michael (Dr. Patrice) Whistler and Stephen (Daphne)
Whistler, and her sister, Anna Morgan, as well as five grandchi ldren,
six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Mary's
passing will be a particular loss to her canine companion, the beautiful
blue-eyed Max, her book club and hiking club.
It was her wish to thank the nurses and staff at the DaVita Dialysis
center, St. Mary's Hospital, HopeWest Hospice, and her many other
doctors, nurses and health care staff for their care and attention to
her needs and wishes.
Memorial contributions to HopeWest Hospice, 3090-B N. 12th St.,
Grand Junction, 81506 or Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies,
734 Scarlet Drive, Grand Junction, 81505.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3 D Death Notice - August 11, 2013
Mary Alice Whistler, 88, Grand Junction, died Aug. 9,
2013, at Hospice Care Center. Services have taken place.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph Y.; two sons,
Michael of Grand Junction and Stephen of Chicago; two
daughters, Lenette Nance of Fort Worth, Texas, and
Cynthia Bickler of Waukesha, Wash.; one sister, Anna
Morgan of Novelty, Ohio; five grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren;
and one greatgreatgrandchild. Memorial contributions
to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506; or
Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies, 734 Scarlet Drive,
Grand Junction 81505.
