Mary Anne (Burchfield) Whalen passed away on Sunday, February 25,2024 at The King’s Daughters Home in Mexico.
Mary Anne was born on Aug. 4, 1930, to Graydon and Cleo (Johnson) Burchfield in Metamora, Ill. She lived all her life in the Benton City and the Mexico area. She graduated from Mexico High School in 1947, and then was employed by Northwest Mutual Insurance in Mexico.
On Sept. 24, 1950, she married Leslie Wayne Whalen in Fultoni. They lived and raised their family on their farm south of Benton City, for 67 years. Leslie preceded her in death on July 13, 2013.
Mary Anne was a member of the Benton City Christian Church and Sunrise Jolly Neighbors Club. She truly loved her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She and Leslie were very active attending their family’s activities and enjoying their trips to the family home at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Survivors include four children: Lynn (Whalen) Becker of Kansas City; Larry (Janne) Whalen of Mexico; Jim (Judy) Whalen of Castle Rock, Colo.; and Jay (Lisa) Whalen of Mexico; twelve grandchildren: Kimberly (Mike) Becker Vaccaro of San Diego, Calif; Keith (Anne) Becker of Kansas City; Kurt (Brittany) Becker of Peoria, Ill.; Kent (Eunhye) Becker of Peoria, Ill.; Cody Whalen of Mexico; Tiffany Whalen of Lexington, S.C.; and Mindy (Reid) Whalen Heller of Castle Rock, Colo.; Cole Whalen and Jordan McNeil of Mexico; Delaney McNeil of Los Angeles, Calif.; Kelsay (JR) Schrader of Blackwater,; Cody Cannon of Mexico; and fourteen great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by two sisters-in- law; Joann (John) Burchfield of Olathe, Kan., and Emma (Mike) Whalen Jaccarino of Wellsville.
Mary Anne was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie; her parents; two brothers and one sister-in-law; John Burchfield and Harold (Freeda) Burchfield.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Fri., March 1, at Arnold Funeral Home in Mexico with Kevin Wilkerson officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Burial will follow in East Lawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to The King’s Daughters Home at 620 W. Boulevard, Mexico, MO 65265 or c/o Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson St., Mexico, MO 65265.
Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com
