Obituary of Doris D. Whitson

Doris D. (Johnson) Whitson, 93, of Liberal, Missouri, passed away Saturday January 18, 2020 at Medical Lodges in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Doris was born February 27, 1926, in Foss, Oklahoma to Willie Carl and Lonnie Ethel (Wesner) Johnson. She was one of 9 children. She attended school in Stafford and Durham, OK. On December 31, 1941, she married Charles W. Whitson, in Cheyenne, Oklahoma. They were married 69 years before he passed December 9, 2010. In 1942, Doris rode the train from Oklahoma to San Diego, CA, found a job and an apartment where she could be close to Charles when he had leave from the Navy. When Charles shipped out to the Philippines, she returned to Oklahoma for the birth of her first child. Doris and Charles purchased their farm in Iantha, MO, in 1946. They owned and operated the Verdella Store from 1960 till 1968. She began working for Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott in 1969 and retired from there in 1982. She then worked for Liberal Schools in the dietary department for 25 years retiring in 2011 at age 85. Survivors include a son Gary Whitson of Liberal, MO; 2 daughters, Elaine Ledford and husband Charles of Ft. Scott, KS, and Mary Ellen Street and husband Tom of Tulsa, OK and one sister, Carlene James of Canute, OK. She is also survived by six grandchildren; Michael Ledford, Christopher Ledford, Jordan Whitson, Katie Whitson-Benson, Wesley Street and Amy Hawkins, 8 great-grandchildren, Angel and Mystie Ledford, Liam, Rhys and Violet Street, Samuel and Benjamin Hawkins and Isla Whitson. Doris was preceded in death by six sisters and one brother. Doris was a devoted Christian with a wonderful testimony of living a Christlike life. She was a member of the Verdella Freewill Baptist Church. There will be a funeral service at the Verdella Freewill Baptist Church Saturday, January 25th, at 11 A.M. A visitation will precede the service from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Burial will be at the Barton City Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Verdella Freewill Baptist Church. The Konantz Warden Funeral Home is providing the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at konantzwarden.com.