Gearl D. Whiteaker

Gearl (Gerri) Dene Whiteaker was born October 27, 1930, in Ozark County, Arkansas, to Ernest and Agnes (Sherrill) Smart. Mom traveled to Heaven on Sunday, January 22, 2017, after a sudden health issue. Mom was born in Arkansas but traveled to the Wenatchee valley during her early years with her parents and her brother to do seasonal agricultural work. At the age of 11 she began working with her family for Leo Antles, who owned Antles Pollen Supplies. Her family finally moved to Wenatchee where she continued to work each spring picking fruit blossoms to be processed for pollenating orchards. In the late 1960’s the company sold to four employees; at which time mom became a co-owner of Antles where she continued to run the field crews to pick blossoms for processing. Several years ago she sold her portion of the business, but continued to work with the field crews through the spring of 2016. She worked for Antles for 75 years. Through all those years, and by many that new her, she became known as the “Bee Lady”. She loved doing her job. She was featured in the Good Fruit Gower magazine many years ago explaining the process of blossom thinning/picking; and was honored by the new owners for 70 years with the company. She spent the remaining three seasons of the year packing and sorting various types of fruits in numerous fruit packing sheds in the valley through 2016. Most of her years were at Washington Fruit Growers and Blue Bird, and most recently Webber Fruit. She made many lifelong friends in the packing sheds and in the agricultural industry. While in Arkansas, she met and married Dale Howard Whiteaker on November 27, 1948. Within the next 11 years, four children joined the family. While raising four children, she and Dad made sure we all had what we needed. The family enjoyed taking annual vacations and periodic road trips to Arkansas. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed family gatherings, barbeques, shopping trips, and vacations. Oh, and she so enjoyed having ‘break’ with her friends. Mom loved her family and her family loved her. She had a heart so big she would do anything for anyone. She had a wonderful spirit and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew or met her. Mom is survived by her husband of 68 years, Dale Whiteaker, Wenatchee; her four children, Kathy (Scott) Henry and Greg Whiteaker, both of East Wenatchee; Nancy (Dan) Baker and Bruce Whiteaker, both of Wenatchee. Three grandchildren, Erin (Devin) Poff, East Wenatchee; Tim (Jeannie) Henry, Wenatchee; and Levi (Ashley) Baker, Seattle; three great-grandchildren, Jayce Port, East Wenatchee; Andrew Henry, Wenatchee, and one month old Westyn James Baker, Seattle. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, step-father, Earl Jones, brother E. Junior Smart, and sister-in-law, Mary Smart. Friends may visit Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home, Thursday, January 26 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. A service will be held on Friday, January 27 at 11:00 am at Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Wenatchee City Cemetery. Please express your thoughts and memories at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements by Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home.

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Gearl D. Whiteaker

October 27, 1930 - January 22, 2017