Wilma Avis Whitaker of Chambers died July 20, 2000, in O’Neill.

She was born on Jan. 9, 1922, in Beaver Crossing to Claude A. and Hattie E. (Gerber) Richardson.

As a young child, she moved with her family from Seward to Valley county. After her father died when she was ten years old, her mother, Hattie, with the help of the older Richardson children, raised the family of nine through the Depression of the 1930s.

She graduated as class valedictorian from Ord High School in 1939. She was awarded a regent’s scholarship to the University of Nebraska, but was unable to attend college and began teaching instead.

Her quiet life would never be the same after she met and later married the dashing cowboy and love of her life, Vernon E. Whitaker, on June 30, 1941.

While living in the Chambers area, she continued teaching at the Gleed, Cavanaugh and Chambers schools. The long horse rides to school often went quickly because her husband viewed these commutes as a change to “school” young horses.

After the birth of her daughters, Danelia and Sandra, she quit teaching and became a full-time wife and mother. Four more children were born to this busy family; Chip, Linda, Amy and Robert.

Wilma Whitaker provided the anchor for her family, as she quietly did what needed to be done. Her faith and love of God were displayed in the way she lived. The smell of bread and goodies made from scratch, the home-cooked meals, often crafted from leftovers, as well as her quiet strength are fond memories of her family today. Always the teacher, she encouraged a love of reading and learning which she passed on to her family.

The Whitakers lived for four years at the Cherry Hill Farm near Blair before Wilma returned to Chambers.

Many would describe Wilma Whitaker as quiet and unassuming, but her family, who knew and loved her, would probably say she was “fiercely loyal.” That loyalty was shown not only to her family and friends, but to the Husker football team, Chambers Coyotes and other causes which were special to her.

She is survived by her six children: a daughter, Danelia Kracht of Palm Desert, Calif., three daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra and Gary Hunter of Hemingford, Linda and Terry Ciurej of Blair. Amy and Zak Zutavern of Dunning; son and daughter-in-law, Chip and Marilyn Whitaker of Chambers; and her son, Robert Whitaker of St. Onge, S.D., 13 grandchildren; a sister, Thelma Lockheart of Bentonville, Ark., special niece, Lana Bell, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, on July 31, 1987; her parents; and four brothers and four sisters, Clinton, Raymond, Lloyd, Glen, Edith Goff, Fern Goff, Ruth Rice and Elma Bell.