WHITESELL, Marilyn Rae 1927-2000

WHITESELL, FAIRBANKS, ACUFF

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 11/6/2013 at 23:59:49

Marilyn Rae (Fairbanks) Whitesell Aug. 16, 1927 - May 28, 2000

[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Monday, May 29, 2000]

WOMAN DIES OF TORNADO INJURIES

Marilyn Whitesell, 72, of rural Cedar Falls, died about 7 p.m. Sunday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City of complications of injuries she received when a tornado ripped through her home at 5636 Big Woods Road more than two weeks ago, trapping her inside.

Whitesell was one of two people seriously injured in the tornadoes, and already had to have an arm and hand amputated. Another eight people or so received minor injuries.

After a life of giving to others, Whitesell's was snatched away suddenly. Rescue workers had to raise the floor in order Co extract Whitesell from her demolished home, they said at the time. She had been badly injured when portions of the structure landed on her arms. 'To have something like this happen to her, it's just beyond belief," said lifelong friend and sister-in-law, Eileen Acuff of Waterloo. "I never heard her get angry or critical of people," Acuff said, choking back tears.

Acuff said Whitesell's life was spent giving to others, occasionally punctuated with her own pain. One of her daughters died at the age of 8 from leukemia, and her husband, Donald, died slowly of a debilitating disease. "Her family was her life," Acuff said. "She looked forward to having big family dinners, that was her delight" Until the end, she was doing nice things for others, Acuff said. Two days before the tornadoes hit, she had just finished two Precious Moments cross-stitch designs for another sister-in-law. 'That's just the kind of person she was, she thought of other people," Acuff said.

But it was not just family for whom she cared. Rolene Whitesell, another sister-inlaw, said she was active in her church, and displayed a deep faith. "She loved her church." Rolene Whitesell said.
She was planning to go to Pella for the annual Tulip Festival this month because she had recently acquired an avid interest in flowers and gardening, Acuff said. She spent the day before the tornado planting butterfly bushes Acuffhad grown and given to her. "She blessed other people too," Acuff said. After the news of the tornado, Acuff was inundated with calls both in and out of state about Whitesell's well-being.

She left behind seven children, along with many more grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Burial at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens, Cedar Falls, IA