Earl Raymond Whittaker of Las Vegas, NV, completed his life's journey on earth May 25, 2018. He was born on May 3, 1936 in Bangor, Maine, to Robert and Ruth Whittaker. Earl was a lifelong Chef, cooking his way across the Southwest United States and eventually retiring as the Head Buffet Chef at the Luxor, Las Vegas. From 1959-1961 Earl was the Co-owner of the Metro Steak House in Denver, CO, which eventually became the Sizzler Chain of Restaurants. He then moved to Las Vegas where he was a Sous and Saucier Chef until 1973 when he moved to Delta, CO and purchased the Highway Cafe and Fireside Restaurant. After 10 years in CO, Earl decided to return to Las Vegas, working as a chef in many Hotels including the Golden Nugget, Flamingo, Aladdin, Excalibur, Stardust, and spent many years at the Desert Inn, cooking for the likes of Howard Hughes.
Earl made it clear that his greatest joy in life was spending time with his Las Vegas Grandchildren Max, Breanne, Haley, Aubry, Brittany, Amanda, and Monique, and encouraging their talents and each one's uniqueness. He understood everyone of them and could speak to them on a level only he could. Quite an artist himself, he always requested drawings from his great-grandchildren if he knew they were coming to visit. An extremely well-read man, he and his Grandson Max would spend hours discussing history, religions, governments, sciences, movies, and music in great detail. He will truly be missed by these young people. His memories and stories of the wild history of the Las Vegas casinos were always entertaining.
Earl is pre-deceased by his Parents, brother Carl (a cancer research scientist), and sister Sarah Cook (Gardiner, ME). Earl is survived by his Brother, Bill Whittaker of Tucson, AZ; daughter Belinda & Husband Jonathan Sharp, Dover, NH; his 3 sons, Earl & Wife Valarie, Las Vegas, NV; Claude & Wife Melanie, North Waterboro, ME; Bryan & Wife Heidi, Las Vegas, NV; and former Wife Elvira Whittaker and her children Bonnie Gonzalez, Lalo & Wife Kristie Rodeles, and Arthur Rodeles; and many Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.
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