Franklin D Whatley

Funeral services have been scheduled for Franklin at 11:00 AM, Friday, March 6, 2015 at Reed Culver Chapel in Tahlequah, OK with Pastor Mike Hamilton officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Gibson National Cemetery at 1:00 PM. Visitation will be held from 12:00 PM until 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at Reed Culver Funeral Home.

Education was important to Frank and college was his goal. He lived in the small community of Moffett, Oklahoma where there was no high school. Therefore he chose Ft. Smith High School. He rode his bicycle across the Arkansas River Bridge. There he secured his bicycle and caught a bus he went to an early morning job. Then he caught another bus to go to the school. He graduated in 1954. He served in the US Navy from 1954 to 1959.

He chose Northeastern State University in Tahlequah for college. He loved to tell his love story to whom ever would listen. January 1959 he was sitting in Calvin Turnbow’s American history class in Seminary Hall when he noticed this young girl with brown hair and brown eyes standing in the doorway and their eyes met. She entered the room and sat down in the row ahead of him. He knew he had found his love. He married his love, Nellie Woodard Whatley June 22, 1960 and they were married almost 55 years. They enjoyed the love that only God can make happen. They were truly soul mates.

He has one son, retired LTC James Allen Whatley (Karianne) of Hope Mills, North Carolina, and 3 daughters, Frankie LaNell Whatley of Tulsa and Denise Hillsberry Whatley of Tulsa, and Susan Abel Loris of Tulsa. He has three grandsons, Tee Jay Deere ( Brittany), Zachary James Whatley (Gaby ) and Cody Allen Whatley and one granddaughter Kristina (Eric) Loera, one great granddaughter Oakley Deere and two great grandsons, Izek Loera and James Whatley. Ezra Deere will be born in March. He also has a large number of nieces and nephews.

He spent his life setting the example for his children to “leave this world a better place than when they found it.” He was active in soccer, band and Scouting. He was very proud when his son, James reached Eagle Scout.

Frank taught from 1968-1986 at Booker T. Washington HS in Tulsa, Ok. When Frank retired from teaching in Oklahoma, he and Nellie’s motto was “have degree, will travel”. They taught in Alaska, Texas and New Mexico until the big “C” hit him, forcing early retirement.

Pallbearers are grandson Tee Jay Deere, nephews Blake, Bret, Jack, and Roger Whatley, and cousin, Frank Wofford.

Honorary pall bearers are Jerry Dale Woodard and members of the Class of 58, Tahlequah High School and the husbands of female members of the class. They met one day per month for a luncheon and Frank really enjoyed the fellowship. Members are

H. M. Ballard, Jim Dryden, James Thompson, David Thomas, James Ogle, Ray Higginbotham, Henry Willis, Jack Parnell and Buddy Stubbs.

The family would like to thank all the employees of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Tulsa for the care and love given to Frank since 1993 and for the love given to the family. Frank could be found on the CTCA campus encouraging and recommending a facility he really believed in. He was such a strong advocate that he was chosen to make two commercials for CTCA. Frank was the longest surviving cancer patient at the Tulsa facility of just over 23 years.

Because his CTCA commercial was so successful he made a commercial for Jimmy Houston promoting Heddon lures for ESPN.

Family and friends would like to express heartfelt thanks to Transitions LifeCare hospice. Regina and Rosie provided loving care and support to Frank and the family.