Willie O.Whitehead

Willie O. “Smokey” Whitehead

On 18 Oct 2009, Willie Olen “Smokey” Whitehead, 93 years old of Greenville, Texas went home to be with his Lord and Savior.  Services will be held 2:00 PM, Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park.  Officiating will be Rev. Danny Gandy.  Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Craig Forbes, Trevor McNellis, Thomas McDonald, Robert McDonald, Eric Herman and Lynn Herman.  Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.

Smokey was born on September 28, 1916 in Jacksboro, Texas to Charles E. and Alpha L. Brown Whitehead.  He married Nora Lee Gafford on June 04, 1938 in Walters.

Smokey was a wonderful man, husband, father and grandfather who loved the Lord.  He was a man of many talents including auto and aircraft mechanic, carpenter, oil ruffneck and proprietor of his own service station.  He enjoyed fishing and woodworking, creating many items for family and friends.  He belonged to the Odd Fellow Lodge of Greenville.  Ardis Heights Baptist Church was his church home.

Smokey is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Nora Marie and Harvey McDonald, Laura and James Forbes, both of Greenville, Cindy and Ken Herman of Indiana; eleven grandchildren, John Whitehead, Lori Pavolski, Robert McDonald, Velissa Baise, Thomas McDonald, Christi McNellis, Craig Forbes, Jessica Lopez, Lynn Herman, Courtney Herman, and Eric Herman; 27 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.  He is also survived by one sister, Imogene Pruett and a sister-in-law, Sylvia Whitehead.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Nora, a son Edger Thomas, his parents, 3 brothers and 6 sisters.

The family requests memorials be made to Vista Care Hospice, Ardis Heights Baptist Church or American Cancer Society.