Earlene Whitefield

Earlene Whitefield passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at River Point assisted care home in Kerrville.\r\n\r\nEarlene was born near Plains, Texas in 1938, the youngest of two daughters born to Walter and Martha Anderson. She was raised on the William Anderson family homestead tract near Plains, attended school in Plains and Denver City, and graduated from Lamesa High School in 1956. She attended Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas, during the late 1950s, where she met and married Durwood Whitefield, of Sweetwater, Texas. They travelled the world during much of the 1960s. Earlene raised their three sons and managed households in many locations, while Durwood was away for weeks to months at a time overseeing petroleum exploration operations in north Africa, Australia, and across the Indian Ocean to Madagascar. They returned to Texas and resided in Odessa, Houston, and Corpus Christi from the early 1970s through the early 1990s. They moved to Kerrville upon Durwood's retirement in 1993. Mom had a life-long interest in fine art and western art. She enjoyed Kerrville's art shows and workshops, and regularly attended local musical performances and plays.\r\n\r\nEarlene is preceded in death by Durwood, who passed away in 2011 after 53 years of loving marriage. Earlene is also preceded in death by her father, her mother, and her older daughter, Anna Beth. She is survived by son, Paul Whitefield in Flagstaff, Arizona; son, Steven Whitefield and his wife Irene in Bandera, Texas; son, Andy Whitefield in Kingman, Arizona; grandson, Travis and his wife Kayla of Bandera; great-granddaughter, Harper of Bandera; and granddaughter, Chelsea of Bandera.\r\n\r\nEarlene loved and was loved dearly by her family, friends, and relatives. She is greatly missed.\r\n\r\nEarlene's health failed rapidly during 2018, and she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma only a week before her death. The Whitefield family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to Brookdale skilled nursing, River Point assisted care home, and Peterson Hospice, all of Kerrville, for their care for Earlene during her final months. Above all, we give thanks to God for His love and His mercy.\r\n\r\nVisitation, closed casket, will be from 5 to 7pm, Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Grimes Funeral Chapels. Graveside services will be at 2pm, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Yoakum County Cemetery, Plains, Texas. \r\n\r\n\r\n