John Franklin Whatley

John Franklin Whatley, 95, of Temple died Friday June 12, 2009 in a local nursing home. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday June 15, 2009 at the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home with Dr. Leroy Kemp and Dr. Tom Henderson officiating. Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park. A life-long resident of Bell County, he was born October 4, 1913 to Benjamin Bowles and Johnnie Ruth Shapard Whatley of Stringtown. He attended school in Rockdale, Stringtown, and Gindale. He married Lorene Lucky on September 23, 1933. He was a farmer in the early years of their marriage and then started working in the farm implement business of Saffold and Jenkins in 1941. In 1952, he became a partner in the business. The business was later renamed Jenkins-Whatley Farm Implement Company. Mr. Whatley retired from the farm implement business, then named Blackland Implement, in 1979. After his retirement, Mr. Whatley enjoyed time at home with his family and beloved grandsons doing gardening, woodworking, and visiting with his many friends on his errands about town. He was a long time member of Heights Baptist Church and served as a deacon and treasurer there for many years. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered by his wife Lorene Whatley of Temple; two daughters, Gwenda Downing and husband Dub of Troy and Jan Johnson and husband Ken of Belton; five grandsons, John Downing and wife Carla, Douglas Downing and wife Shellie all of Troy, Kenny Johnson and wife Glenda of Belton, Brian Johnson and Grant Johnson of Dallas; eight great-grandchildren, Bo Johnson, Ashleigh Downing, Trinton Downing, Kent Johnson, Clayton Downing, Blake Johnson, Raley Downing, and Chance Downing. Mr. Whatley was preceded in death by four sisters, Dorothy Fritz and Mary Lucky of Temple, Julia Kemp of Belton, and Sammie Allman of Austin. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons and great-grandson. Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of Heights Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Heights Baptist Church, 1220 S. 49th Street, Temple, Texas 76504 or to one's favorite charity.