Helen Charlene Whitaker

Helen Charlene Whitaker passed away June 12, 2017, in Denver, CO, having reached the age of 83 years, 11 months, and 20 days.

She was born Helen Charlene Dennis on June 22, 1933, to Charles and Zelma Dennis of St. Louis, MO. She lived with her parents, and 8 siblings: Joyce, Jackie, Shirley, Carol, Deanna, Terry, Larry, and Jerry.

"In the end,it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln.

Charlene had a lot of life, she was born in the depression years, and experienced the childhood death of her sister Jackie. Charlene met and fell in love with Dow Leonard Whitaker, of Salem, MO. They were married on June 10, 1950, and had four children: Sharon, Linda, Dawn, and Scott.

Charlene built houses with Leonard, and created a home where they could raise their children. Charlene worked in real estate, accounting, and sales throughout the years, and she would have travel tirelessly between states, to ensure she never missed a birth of her twelve grandchildren.

Supervising Leonard with the grandchildren was a full-time job in itself, as he was just as much a kid at heart, as any of them. He was fun and would often let them get away with doing things that weren't always the safest, and necessarily in their best interest; all he cared about was seeing the smiles on the faces of those grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Charlene knew that a Pepsi, candy bar, and a push-up Popsicle weren't suitable breakfast items for her grandchildren, and letting toddlers ride the lawn tractor, with Leonard running beside it, was a bad idea. She didn't mind being the bad guy, if it kept her beloved grandchildren safe from harm. She would hug them, tell them she loved them, and often sing “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” to cheer them up; their disappointment faded easier that way.

When the grandchildren would spend the night with Leonard and Charlene, Leonard would often be snoring away as Charlene and the grandchildren would be looking at the stars trying to locate the big dipper. When Charlene felt it was time for sleep, you'd hear her start singing, "Stars shining bright above you, Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'. Birds singing in the sycamore trees, dream a little dream of me!" Charlene loved singing to the grandchildren and they would often request songs for her to sing to them.

On May 12, 1956, Charlene was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She spent many hours studying the Bible and sharing her beliefs with others. She touched many lives, and will be loved and missed by all that knew her.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband Leonard, daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Robert Wilson, her parents Charles and Zelma, and siblings Joyce, Jackie, Shirley, Terry, and Jerry.

She is survived by her children Linda Stailey and husband Jack of Denver, CO; Dawn Plant and husband David of Sullivan, MO; and Scott Whitaker of Seattle, WA; and siblings Carol Bradley and husband Ed of Oswego, IL; Deanna Johnson and husband Mike of St. Peters, MO; and Larry Dennis and wife Beth of Branson, MO.

Charlene was blessed with 12 grandchildren: Jessica Farris and husband Jared of Sullivan, MO; Wendy McHendry and husband Clint of Stillwater, OK; Gina Gargus and husband Shaun of Sullivan, MO; Andrea Hoskins and husband Kevin of Denver, CO; Stacy Wilson and husband Daniel Schwager of Stillwater, OK; Karri Wilson of Stillwater, OK; Alison Sulley and husband Brian of Roeland Park, KS; Gregory Wilson of Stillwater, OK; Jon Pratt and wife Veronica of Farmington, MO; Matthew Stailey of Tulsa, OK; Amanda Darnaby and husband Michael of Stillwater, OK; Jenna Ross and husband Thomas of Ponca City, OK; along with her great-grandchildren Kelsey Rogers and husband Derrek of Sullivan, MO; Austin Farris of Washington, MO; Isaac and Tessa Gargus of Sullivan, MO; Tiana Pratt and DaVina Hall of Farmington, MO; Hunter and Cooper Ross of Ponca City, OK; Henry Hoskins of Denver, CO; Baby Wilson-Schwager (to be born in September) of Stillwater, OK; and multiple nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service will be held for Helen Charlene Whitaker at 2 p.m. July 15, 2017 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Sullivan.