MYRTLE PENLEY WHITLEY was born May 10, 1914, in Hickory, North Carolina, to Loyd and Claudia (Beard) Propst. She passed away Saturday, March 29, 2008, at the Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, Nebraska, after a long battle with cancer. Myrtle was 93 years of age.

On June 13, 1930, Mrytle married Thomas J. Penley and to this union two daughters were born: Mary Elizabeth and Elva Geraldine. They lived all their married lives in Hickory, North Carolina, except for two years which was spent in Decatur, Nebraska. Tom passed away in 1976.

On November 26, 1982, Myrtle was married to Lawrence Matthews, he preceded her in death. In 1994, she married Ben Whitley, who also preceded her in death. Myrtle moved to Nebraska in 2004 to be with her family. Myrtle worked at the hosiery mill in Hickory for many years and then worked for the State of North Carolina in the license tag office until she retired.

Myrtle was a life-long member of the Baptist Church. She enjoyed traveling, dancing, taking care of her home and flowers.

She was also preceded in death by her parents: two brothers: Gene and Bill Propst; sister: Helen Donkle; son-in-law: George Hildebran.

Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law: Mary Hildebran of Kansas City, Kansas, Gerrie and John Gammel of Tekamah; six grandchildren: Yvonne Ferguson of Kansas City, Kansas, Cynthia Main of Kirkland, Washington, Valerie Woerman of Blair, Nebraska, Steven Gammel of Tekamah, Sandra Hennig of Tekamah, Linda A. Hansen of Herman; fourteen great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; sister: Kathryn Pope of Catawba, North Carolina; brother: Sam Propst of Claremont, North Carolina; a number of nieces, nephews and many friends.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Tekamah.

VISITATION: Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church

MEMORIALS: To the Family

Services will be held Monday, April 7, 2008, at the Hickory Funeral Home in Hickory, North Carolina.

INTERMENT: Fairview Cemetery in Hickory, North Carolina.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com