WHATLEY, WYLIE C. (Bear)

Surnames:  WHATLEY, CLYBURN, LAND, GRAY, JESSE, TAYLOR, DUKE.

Newspaper (unknown)

WYLIE C. (BEAR) WHATLEY
Aug. 12, 1919 - June 28, 1998

       Wylie C. (Bear) Whatley, born August 12, 1919 in Navarro County, died Sunday, June 28, 1998, after a brief illness in Temple.
       Bear grew up near the Chandler community in east Texas, leaving as teenager to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, followed by service in the U. S. Army.  Bear married his lifelong partner, Margaret Lois (Bill) Clyburn, in Las Cruces, NM, the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, later serving in Europe during the war.
       Bear moved his family to Marlin in 1951 where he was employed at the VA hospital, served in the Texas National Guard, was a Boy Scoutmaster, was active in his local AFGE union and a member of Eastside Church of Christ.
       Preceded in death by his wife; parents Grover and Hettie Whatley; sister Altha Mae Land; and brother Harvie Gray, Bear is survived by his children Butch and Peggy Whatley of Robinson, and Fred and Margaret Jesse of San Antonio, sisters Frances Clyburn of Garland, Johnnie Taylor of Tayler, and Doris and Dolphus Duke of Bullard, brother Bill and Liz Whatley of Tyler, six grandchildren and two great grandsons, a large and loving family and numerous friends.
       Bear's life was celebrated at a family gathering on Saturday, July 4 in Corsicana.  A memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 19 at 6 p.m. at the Eastside Church of Christ. Hwy 7 East, Marlin.  Memorial gifts may be made to the church at P.O. Box 1068, Marlin, TX 76661.

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