WHITING, Margie

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ February 16, 2007 Margie Kempe Whiting, 83, of St. Johns died Feb. 7, 2007. Margie was born Dec. 13, 1923 in Madera, Calif. In her youth, she lived in Concho, with her dad, two sisters and brother. She went to high school in St. Johns. During World War II she lived in California working as a machinist making parts for airplanes. She married her high school sweetheart and love of her life Loren W. Whiting in 1944. They were inseparable for 60 years until he passed away in 2004. Together they raised five children. She loved working in her flower and vegetable gardens, canning fruit and vegetables, going for rides with the family to see the sights on the mountain and surrounding areas and camping every summer. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Margie is survived by sons, Danny (Evelyn) Whiting Vernal, of Utah, Jack (Karen) Whiting of Eagar; daughters Sylvia Whiting of St. Johns, Judy (Dan) Austin of Eagar; Donna (Tom) Anderson of St. Johns; sister, Marian Jones of Apple Valley, Calif.; half-sisters Rose Chavez of St. Johns; Lucille Tafoya of St. Johns; 30 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Clara Kempe; sister Anita Shreeve; brother Jack Kempe and her eternal companion and husband Loren W. Whiting. There will be a visitation Friday, Feb. 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Burnham Mortuary, 20 S. Washington of St. Johns and again Feb. 17 at 9 a.m.. Services will be held to honor her life Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, 10 a.m. at the Downtown St. Johns LDS Chapel. Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements.