Etta Lee Whitus

Graveside services for Etta Lee Whitus, 93, of Tyler are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Sunday, November 13, 2011 in Pilgrim Rest II Cemetery, Hwy. 69 near Golden. The family will receive friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday at Lloyd James Funeral Home.

Etta Lee Whitus, greatly loved and admired mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to many, passed away peacefully early Friday morning, 11th of November, surrounded by loved ones. She was a bright light, her gentle and steady spirit obvious to all who met her.

Mrs. Whitus is survived by her four children: Jerry and Ann Whitus of San Marcos, Donald and Danna Whitus of Tyler, Dr. William and Jan Howard of Longview, Dr. Don and June Williams of Richmond. She was also adored by 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, a brother Ray Patterson of Chapel Hill, and sister Lilly Richardson of Tyler. She was married for more than 65 years to her beloved husband, Homer Whitus, World War II veteran and owner off the Tyler Mattress Company, who passed away in 1996. A long time member and Sunday School teacher at Trinity Baptist Church in Tyler, she lived a full and active life true to her Christian faith and loving family.

Mrs. Whitus was born on October 26, 1918, in Wickes, Arkansas, to Grover Cleveland and Lucy Davis Patterson and grew up in the Cottonwood Community in East Texas surrounded by a big and boisterous family, five brothers and a sister. She graduated high school, married, and then worked for a few years as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone in Tyler until the birth of her first son. She became a devoted mother as three other children were born. She was a little league mom and participated in her children’s education at school and church. Mrs. Whitus loved to read and had a house full of books. She was a wonderful cook and holiday meals with her family were a highlight of her life. She will be greatly missed.