Nellie Ann Whatley

Nellie Ann Woodard Whatley, or Nana Banana to her grandchildren, was born on August 6th, 1940 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Clyde and Opal (Mills) Woodard. She grew up with three brothers, Clyde, Roy, and Thompson, attended school and graduated from Tahlequah High School. She then went on to obtain her Masters Degree in Education from NSU in Tahlequah. Nellie met a handsome Navy veteran by the name of Franklin D Whatley, and they were married in 1960 in Wagoner, OK. This union was blessed with children, LaNell and Jim. She served students with special needs for her entire working career, and showed the compassion and care needed to help these students succeed. She retired from education in Gallup, NM, and then moved to Oklahoma to be close to her family. She liked quilting, gardening with Frank, she did flowers while he preferred ‘maters”. The two of them were constantly tinkering around the house, fixing this, building that. Nellie loved going to the kitchen and made a wonderful cinnamon roll, bundt cake, and of course, a fine pot of beans with cornbread and fried taters. The holidays found her scurrying around the house to make a special dinner and get everything ready for her grandchildren. She was generous, energetic, and giving of her time and talent. She was strict but fair and loved her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren including great nieces, nephews unconditionally. She was always guiding and teaching, it came to her naturally. Nellie was a Southern Baptist by faith and a member of New Life Baptist church in Broken Arrow. She read her Bible daily and served in Women’s Mission Union faithfully. She taught “Acteens”, a church sponsored program for young ladies. Wherever she was needed, Nellie would be there. Occasionally, she and Frank would slip off to Branson and spend a little time at Silver Dollar City, she loved to see the sights. The best part of any day for Nellie was time spent loving on and playing with her grandchildren. She thought them the best people on earth. Frank passed from this life in 2015, and Nellie kept close to the family she loved for support. Her health began to fade, and Nellie passed from this life on May 17th, 2021 surrounded by those she loved. Nellie was 80 years old and will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Alec and Harriett (Brown) Mills, Henry and Fancy (Goddard) Woodard, her mother and father, three brothers, Clyde, Elick, and Thompson Woodard, and numerous aunts and uncles.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Frankie LaNell Whatley of Tulsa, OK, Jim Whatley and wife Karianne of Boynton, OK. She leaves her brother, Roy Woodard and wife Mary Ann of Missouri. She will live on in her grandchildren, Kristina Loera and husband Erick of Tulsa, OK, Zachary Whatley and wife Melinda of North Carolina, Timothy Joe Deere and wife Brittany of Tulsa, OK, and Cody Whatley of Tulsa, OK. She has five very special great grandchildren, Izek Loera, James Whatley, Oakley Deere, Ezra Deere, and Alexandros Whatley, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends, students and loved ones too numerous to mention.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you consider a donation to the Baptist Village of Broken Arrow General Fund or the Salvation Army.

A Celebration of the Life of Nellie Ann Woodard-Whatley will be held on Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the New Life Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, OK with Pastor Mike Hamilton officiating. Pallbearers for Nellie include Roger Whatley, Jerry Woodard, Zachary Whatley, Robert Dale Lafave, T.J. Deere, Cody Whatley, and. Her honorary pallbearers include Susan Loris and Denise Hillsberry. She will be laid to rest with her husband, Frank Whatley at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery in a private interment. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.