Katherine Greene Whatley

Katherine Greene Whatley, 89, departed her earthly life at Givens Estates Health Center, Asheville, NC on Wednesday morning, September 26, 2012 . She was born on July 28, 1923 and lived her first 21 years in Conway, AR where her father, The Rev. Dr. Charles J. Greene, was long associated with Hendrix College variously as professor of English and Religion, vice-president, and acting president. Her mother, Irma Frances Greene, had been secretary to the president. Katherine was a 1944 graduate of Hendrix with a major in Education. She was married on Feb. 4, 1945 to Ray Edward Whatley and moved to Montgomery, AL where her husband was a Methodist pastor. Her primary occupation was as a pastor's wife, homemaker, and parsonage hostess until their son joined the family as an infant. She then became a full time mother, still the noblest of professions, and continued to be until her son was in junior high school in Evanston, IL. In 1962, Mrs. Whatley had moved to Evanston, IL with her husband who went to serve with the Methodist General Board of Pensions. She became employed with the Methodist Council on Finance and Administration in the same building as her husband's office. Because of her faith and love for people, she became a role model and mentor to some of her fellow workers. The Whatleys retired to Lake Junaluska, NC in late 1981, where they lived until moving to Givens Estates in 2005. A lifetime Methodist, Katherine loved God, the church, and family. She was very social and outgoing. She had a mind of her own and made her own decisions, yet by 2005 dementia had progressed so far that she became withdrawn and shunned socializing. Katherine is survived by her husband of Asheville, a son, Charles David Whatley, and his wife Barbara Whatley, granddaughter, Meredith Rae Whatley, grandson, Dillon Charles Whatley, all of Weaverville, and by two sisters and a brother of her husband, and his 12 nephews and 6 nieces, all of whom she loved as her family, and to each of them and their spouses she was a beloved sister and aunt. The family is grateful to the many who provided loving and patient care during Katherine's almost three-year stay at the Givens Health Center, especially by the superb care and guidance by the good people of Care Partners Hospice Services during her last days. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 6, 2012, at the Biltmore United Methodist Church, Asheville, where Mrs. Whatley was a member. The Rev. Sonny Revis, the Rev. Ed Hillman, and the Rev. Dr. George Thompson will officiate. The family will receive friends beginning at 2:00 PM. An additional memorial service will be held later in Grove Hill, Alabama. In lieu of Flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Biltmore United Methodist Church, 376 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 28803, to the Givens Estates Resident Assistance Fund, 400 Wesley Drive, Asheville, NC 28803, or to Care Partners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.