Loretta Pearl Whaley (Rita), 74 of Filer, ID passed away at her home on Sunday, September 8, 2013 surrounded by her family and loving friends.

Rita was born June 27, 1939 in Sheldon, MO. In 1949 she moved to Southern Idaho with her mother Loretta Belle Dade and her siblings Donald and Phillis and settled in Jerome, ID where she attended school. She had a desire for learning which eventually led her to attend CSI in Twin Falls, ID where she received an Associate's Degree in Medical Terminology.

Rita married Alva Deen Garrison Sr. (Dude) in 1954. They had four children together and were divorced several years later. In 1966 Rita married again, to William Garrette Shell (Bill), they had two children and together raised their six children until Bill passed away in 1987. Several years later she married James Donald Whaley (Dunk) and they shared their lives until his death in 2001.

Rita was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She loved being surrounded by her family, listening to stories of their lives and sharing laughter. Her one great desire was to have all of her children together once more before her Lord took her home. Rita loved the Lord and took every opportunity to share this love with others. She was a spirited woman with an infectious laugh and a wonderful smile. She was an avid gardener and she passed her enjoyment for gardening on to each of her six children.

She was preceded in death by her father, David Dale Smith; sister, Phillis Frazier and husbands, William Garrette Shell and James Donald Whaley.

Loretta is survived by her mother, Loretta B. Smith of Filer, ID; sons, Alva "Skip" Garrison Jr. of Kimberly, ID, Stephen (Michele) Shell of Boise, ID; daughters, Verena (David) Thompson of Chubbuck, ID, Ramona (Dennis) Montgomery of Filer, ID, Brenda (Fred) Luque of Highland, CA., Melody (Kevin) Kreft of Filer, ID; brother, Donald (Linda) Dade of Fort Mojave, AZ and best friend Carl Franklin of Filer, ID; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 14, 2013 at In His Name Christian Fellowship, 660 Hwy 30, Filer, ID 83328 with Pastor Tim Chandler officiating. Interment will follow at the Filer Cemetery. There will be a viewing from 1 - 2 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl.

 

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die;

Loretta Pearl Dade was born on June 27th, 1939 to Loretta Dade of Sheldon, Missouri. Her Mother says she was an adorable little girl sent by God to her 74 years ago. A beautiful loving little girl that was so very dear to her. She had long, beautiful hair and Loretta would sit for hours and put in French braids, but it grew so long and heavy that the doctor told Loretta that it had to be cut because it was straining her eyes. One story that I remember well was when I went upstairs to see what she was up to and found her hanging out the window, hanging on for dear life by her little hands. I grabbed her by her long, beautiful hair and pulled her back into the house then collapsed onto the floor. She grew up to be a loving daughter and enjoyed being with her brother Don and sister Phillis. She was carried back home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 8th, 2013. I will miss her so very much but I know she will be waiting for me when it comes my time to join her in our heavenly home.

A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which was planted;

She spent hours outside in her yard tending her flowers and her garden and when the fruits of her labor were accomplished she spent hours in her kitchen canning jams, jellies, pie fillings, and vegetables. She was always ready to give advice to those who asked, on where and when to plant flowers in their own yards and would freely give away starts off of the plants she grew.

A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

In her lifetime Rita grieved for two spouses, her sister Phillis, her step-father, Dale Smith and two favored Uncles. After raising six children she watched them leave the safety and comfort of their childhood home to start their own journeys in life.

Her friends and family remember her for her beautiful smile and her infectious laughter. She loved playing "crap on your neighbor" with her family and she would laugh so hard at Dale because he would get so mad he would just throw down the cards. She had a self-propelled lawn mower and when she first got it she could not control it and she would be pulling back on the handle yelling "Whoa, whoa". It was so comical to watch and had her mother laughing so hard that Rita had to stop because she was laughing hysterically too. Her friend Vicki says they liked to meet up with friends for breakfast every week where they had a lot of good times.



She loved to sing and dance with her little daughters. Verena, her oldest daughter says her days started with singing her children awake and sharing her joy of the day with them. She had a sparkle that made us all feel happy around her. It was fun to tease her because she took it so well and gave it right back. For example, Steve, her youngest son remembers when Rita and Dunk got married he went over to her house and put cellophane over the toilet seat and closed both lids. Rita was the first one to use the toilet....boy was she mad, but she got over it and told him that was kind of mean of someone but, it was very intelligent. Another daughter remembers that she would dance around the house in her "hot pants" singing at the top of her lungs. She also taught them the twist, the jitterbug, the waltz and other dances.

A time to sew;

She took the time to visit and listen to others and enjoyed life to the fullest. A friend of her brother, Don stated "it is not what we have bought, but what we have built, not what we got, but what we gave, not what we have learned, but what we taught". Rita never failed to share her love of her Lord Jesus Christ with anyone and everyone who came around her. She was a member of In His Name Christian Fellowship and really looked forward to being with her Lord, Jesus Christ.

Her son-in-law stated that the last conversation he had with Rita was about Salvation, the Law and Grace. They acknowledged to one another that we are saved by Grace, and on that great day we will all be together. He shared Ephesians 2:8-9 with her which states "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast".

A time to love;

A week ago Thursday I received a post on facebook from my sister Rita. She was reminding me of some of the things we did in our younger years. She said things like, remember the times we played in the haystacks and built forts out of hay bales, and rode the tractors around the open spaces and driveways, and some other fun times we had. Rita and I were buddies throughout our lives. She was the only one that ever called me Bud. Whenever I had a problem, a booboo or a broken heart she was always there to listen and lend a shoulder. Unfortunately, we grew up.

To me she was a great listener. I always tried to be there for her when she had a problem, and that was a problem in itself, for she seldom complained to me. I think I can say in all honesty that Rita Pearl was the best friend I ever had. She was always good to me even in the darkest times of my life.

Dear gentle, kind and loving Lord I wish to ask this of you, please take my beloved sister into your fold, love and protect her and see that she is happy and at peace. Please ask her to meet with my son David and our sister Phil and the great white wolf Silver King (Pooky) and wait for me at the gate. Please tell her I have faith and have done as she asked and believe. In the name of your son and mine I pray.

Amen