Marilyn Elizabeth (Yehle) Wilhite, age 83, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2020. Our friend, our defender and protector, beautiful inside and out, loving mom, mother-in-law, and wonderful Grandmother went to Heaven to dance with our dad, Jack (1924-1991).
Marilyn was born February 25, 1937, to John Lee Yehle (Rich Hill, Missouri) and Zona Johnson Yehle (Monticello, Kentucky) in Hutchinson, Kansas. She was number seven of eleven children.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack C. Wilhite; sisters, Jewel Neufeld, Joyce Phipps, LaFaun Cranor, Shirley Colbert, and Beverly Yehle; brother, Johnny Yehle.
She made her way out into the world after High School to work supporting herself, her parents and siblings. She moved with her family to Ponca City, OK, where she worked for a while at the Ponca City Creamery. She then moved to Oklahoma City and began working at Katz’s Drug Store downtown, this was during one of the first sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement. This is where she met Jack. She married the love of her life and best friend, Jack on March 28, 1961. They enjoyed 30 years of marriage until his passing in 1991. They built their lives together and raised two daughters, Jacqueline, and Rebecca (Jacky and Becky).
Dad worked at the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and encouraged her to apply there too. Mom gave the United States Postal Service 30 years of her life from 1962 until she retired in 1992 as a window clerk. After retiring from the Postal Service, she went on to begin her second career encouraged by Donna and Jimmy McMurry, of McMurry’s Hair Design. She obtained her Beautician’s License and became a certified nail Technician at McMurry’s helping her clients to have wonderful and healthy nails. She took an Alaskan Cruise that summer with Jacky and her husband.
She had a desire to learn how to Ballroom Dance and took lessons with one of her close friends. She was absolutely stunning and enjoyed every minute of it. They even took a trip to Hawaii during this time.
She continued to work at McMurry’s until she learned that she would become a grandmother in the Spring of 2000. She immediately put up her “Going to retire and take care of my grandbaby fulltime” notice. The birth of her one and only grandson, Garritt James Avant, gave her another chapter in her life well lived. She loved him so, doted on him constantly and devoted all her time with helping to raise him to be the handsome, wonderful young man he is today. He was the light in her eyes!! She was so enormously proud of him and the young man he has become. She always said her most treasured memories were of taking Garritt to the Oklahoma Science Museum, Zoo, the Myriad Botanical Gardens and just spending quality time with him listening to him tell her about his day, his dreams and just his everyday life. She loved him with her whole heart unconditionally.
She continued to travel with her family and took another cruise, a Caribbean Cruise to Jamaica, Cozumel and Grand Caymans with Rebecca and family and had a blast because, yep, she got to spend time and have fun with her grandson.
She was a second mom to several throughout all our lives. She never turned anyone away. Whenever you needed a place to stay, she always said “you are welcome anytime and for as long as you need”. Her heart was huge and always open, and you knew she cared about and loved you completely.
When she did not want to travel any longer, she stayed at home and did gardening, collected Salt and Pepper shakers, put puzzles together and did pencil coloring art. One of her favorite hobbies was documenting memories with photos and everyone that knew her was a part of the receiving end of her collection of pictures. She loved to take photos and make photo albums for family and friends. She was the best at sending cards for every occasion (birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, baby showers, weddings, divorces, grandbabies being born). She always celebrated your life events with you. Oh yes, we cannot forget, she also loved collecting Elephants (only with the trunk up for good luck).
We would like to thank the doctors for helping our mom have a quality of life and for helping to keep her with us for as long as possible. Dr. Gary Worcester, Dr. Robin Martin, Dr. C. Coyner-Gregory, Dr. Nancy Nagle, Dr. William Cook, Dr. Amy Dedeke and all the countless nurses.
Marilyn leaves behind to cherish her memory, her daughters, Jacky Armstrong and husband Willie of Mustang, OK, Rebecca L. Avant and husband Jimmy and grandson, Garritt J. Avant of Yukon, OK; siblings; Raymond Yehle and wife Carol of Meridian, ID, William “Bill” Yehle and wife Ruth and family of Gold Hill, OR, Janet Gisel and husband Dick and family of Hutchinson, KS, Zona Lynne Walborn and husband Cecil and family of Great Falls, MT, and a multitude of nieces, nephews, and their families as well as countless friends.
She had a beautiful smile; infectious laugh and she was truly one of a kind. Our hearts are broken as she has left a void that can never be filled, but she has left a legacy of love and a life well lived. Our beautiful, loving, caring, kind, compassionate Mom will be sincerely missed. Mom, rest in Heavenly Peace as we thank the LORD JESUS we will be reunited one day.
- I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.
