Mary Elma Truitt Whorton

WHORTON, TRUITT, DORAN

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 3/27/2012 at 12:02:00

Mary Elma Truitt Whorton was born at home in Agency, IA on August 24, 1918 to Laurence and Hazel Truitt. She spent her childhood growing up on the family dairy farm.
At the age of 16, Mary graduated from Ottumwa High School. She later graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College with a double major in English and music, and served as president of her sorority, Phi Mu. She went on to receive her master’s in English from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in Kirksville, MO.
Mary began her teaching career as a music instructor in Beaver, IA, but spent most of her working life as an instructor of English and Literary Masterpieces at Ottumwa High School.
At the start of WWII, Mary was wed to Jasper Lowell Whorton. Their daughter, Mary Sue, was born in Ottumwa, IA in 1954. Lowell and Mary remained amicable friends throughout their lives after their divorce.
Above all else, Mary lived for her family and adored spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, piano, and playing gin rummy with friends and family. She loved to read and work crosswords. Yard work and gardening were also passions. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church and Delta Kappa Gamma.
Mary passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospice Care in Iowa City on March 22, 2012. Her daughter and granddaughter were by her side. She had lived with her daughter’s family for 15 years at their home in Iowa City. She will be deeply missed by her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Carroll Truitt, and her sister-in-law, Virginia. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Sue Doran, son-in-law Rick Doran, and her much loved grandchildren, Matthew Doran of Dubuque, IA, and Amber Doran of Iowa City. She is also survived by two nephews, David and Paul Truitt, of Ottumwa, IA.