Barbara Ann Whatley

Vinton resident and Portola businesswoman Barbara Ann Whatley passed from this life Sunday afternoon, October 13, 2013 just one day after celebrating her 45th wedding anniversary at Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. Her loving family was at her side. Born in Denver, Colorado on March 7, 1948 to the late Raymond and Edith (Lawler) Crites, Barbara was raised and educated in Denver graduating high school from Adams City High School as a member of the "Class of 1966". She went on to attended San Jose City College in San Jose, CA where she studied business. While residing in Denver Barbara was introduced by relatives to a handsome young gentleman named Gerald Whatley, an encounter that later led to the couples marriage in Denver on October 12, 1968. The newlyweds settled in San Jose where Barbara eventually ended up running eight shelters for the homeless for the Emergency Housing Consortium of San Jose. She and her husband left the South Bay area to reside in Clear Lake, CA where she again ran shelters for the homeless and directed a senior center. The couple relocated to Reno, NV where Barbara took up employment with the Nevada Division of Real Estate until health complications forced her to retire. In 2010 Barbara with her husband moved to Vinton, CA where she was able to take up her dream of a lifetime that of running her own crafts and fabric enterprise named Loose Ends Sew What in Portola, CA for the past year and a half. First and foremost in her life was always Barbara's family. She was an accomplished seamstress who enjoyed the art of crocheting and all types of crafts. In passing Barbara leaves her loving husband; Gerald of Vinton, CA, sons; James M Whatley and wife Amanda of Portola, CA, Robert E. Whatley and wife Beki of Sun Valley, NV, daughters; Edith K. MacMahan and husband Mike of Greensboro, NC, Suzanne Walsh of Highland Ranch, NV and Debbie Foster of Palm Springs, CA, brother; James E. Clack of Owasso, OK, sister Emma M. Zinola of Redding, CA along with the pride of her later life her 26 grand and 2 great grandchildren. A celebration of Barbara's life will take place at the graveside in the Whispering Pines Cemetery outside of Portola, CA Friday, October 18, 2013 at 1:00PM. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary.com.