My darling Mother, Charlene Gayle Whitaker, 60, passed away at home on December 1st, 2010 after a long battle with cancer. She was a dedicated housewife and mother her entire life. She is survived by her loving husband, Howard (Bud); two sons, Chad and Derek; two brothers, James and Michael Slayden; and three grandsons, Chad and Jarett Majestic and Kayden Whitaker. Services were held at 11am, Saturday, December 4, 2010 at the LDS Apple Blossom Chapel, 25 West Apple Blossom Way, Salem, UT with a viewing prior to services at 10am. Interment at Salem City Cemetery.
Eulogy: Written by Jann Peterson, and given by Wanda Cox.
Charlene Gayle Whitaker was born on January 8, 1950 to Winnifred Elizabeth Corson and James Darrel Slayden in Cedar City, Utah. At only a few days old, she moved to Southern California where she lived most of her life, except for the last several years living here in Utah. She grew up in Chino, El Monte and Covina, California where she graduated from Northeastern High School. She also attended Chaffey College and Beauty School, where she received her Cosmetology License. She married Howard (Bud) Whitaker on February 5, 1977 in Pico Rivera, CA and their marriage was later solemnized in the Los Angeles temple for time and all eternity. They moved to Alta Loma where they raised two sons, Chad and Derek.
Charlene worked out of her home doing nails while in California and more recently in utah, she worked at JoAnn Fabric where she was the manager of the Viking Sewing Department. As early as two months ago, she still had a desire to go back to work. Charlene had a work ethic that included being honest, arriving at her job early and staying late. She loved to do machine embroidery and was able to each others while she worked.
Charlene could make anything. She was particularly skilled at sewing, toll painting and handcraft. She was so creative and it showed in every aspect of her life, from painting her nails to coordinate with a particular holiday to wearing colorful clothes and hats. She turned objects that didn’t look so good into something that looked like a million dollars and made gift that she would give away to her friends and neighbors. She loved serving and making things for others and recently made bookmarks for people in her ward when they had a birthday. These are just some examples of her creativity at work.
Their friends, Brenda and Terry of 35 yrs, told of the time when Bud and Charlene had invited them to go square dancing but they didn’t want to do it. They were very persistent about going and finally the couple said,”let’s just do it once and then tell Bud and Charlene we don’t like it and then we won’t have to do it again.” They went the first time and loved it and continued to do it for many years.
Charlene had a good sense of humor and enjoyed joking with her family and they in turn joked around with her. Chad tells of the time when he was about 12 and had hung a bucket of water just inside his bedroom door. He called to Derek to come back to the bedroom. Derek wouldn’t come so Chad just kept calling out for him to come. Finally, Charlene had had enough of the yelling back and forth so she went to Chad’s room to tell him to knock it off. Chad was surprised to see him Mom and tried to tell her not to come any further and at the same time he looked up at the bucket. Charlene looked up and for some reason the bucket was balancing on the door instead of dumping all over her. She turned and walked out and Chad followed to apologize and found his Mom leaning over with her head in the kitchen sink and he thought she was crying. As he leaned over to apologize, he saw mascara running down her cheeks because she was laughing so hard. She said to Chad, “That was funny – don’t do it again.”
She served her family in many ways, especially when the boys were younger, as team Mom to their ball teams. The banners she made for the teams were hand drawn and painted. When they moved to Utah it was hard for her to be so far away from her grandsons because she loved having them around. She and Bud would drive to California and pick them up and bring them back to Utah so she could keep “Grandmothering” them. And then she had Kayden to keep her going. Derek tells of the time when he had just started his first semester of college and he was struggling with the adjustment of school. Things were not going well one night, and he decided to just get in his car and drive the three hours it takes to get home. When he got there, he and Charlene sat on the kitchen floor and talked through the night. She helped him and said only the things that Mom can say. He went back to school the next day.
Charlene and Bud’s home was open to all who needed a place to stay. her brother, Jim, tells of when he and his brother were young and Charlene was older and had moved away from home, she would always make a point of inviting them over to her place to spend time with them. Many family and friends have been welcomed where Charlene could care for them.
Charlene struggled with health issues throughout her life, specifically diabetes from a young age and then later with cancerous lung and brain tumors. She was a fighter and did everything possible to beat it. She was appreciative of the help that was given to her and especially the priests for bringing the sacrament each Sunday. She has a love for her Savior and wasn’t afraid to die.
Of all the traits that can be said of Charlene; her creativity or sense of humor, her willingness to do things for others or welcome them into her home; the most important attribute that emerges, as we speak of this special woman, is that she was very devoted to her family and friends.
We pay tribute Today to Charlene Whitaker; a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a friend. She is survived by her loving husband, Howard (Bud); two sons, Chad and Derek; two brothers, James and Michael Slayden; and three loving grandsons.
This is a simple, beautiful description of why our Savior, Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane, was nailed to a cross at Golgotha, died and was raised up again three days later.
