Gretchen Whitehead

December 30, 1917 – November 23, 2004

She was the queen of caretakers. Although she didn’t get to realize her dream of medical school due to the Depression, she “nursed/doctored” her two girls, our grandparents, aunt, uncle, and daddy. She was the rock of the family and the one everyone always counted on. It was like she was invincible and I thought she would live forever.

Her nickname should have been ‘Spunky’ for she marched to the beat of her own drummer. Sometimes that was to the chagrin of adolescent girls who did not want to be embarrassed!

You would never find her at the neighborhood Tupperware party or shopping for makeup. The thought makes us convulse in laughter! Oh, no – Gretchen would be the one out in the yard with her hands in the dirt or stripping the crabapple tree to make delicious jelly. Later she would find the same love for quilting.

She instilled in her daughters and granddaughters the necessity of being independent, self-supporting women (and also the importance of having a little emergency money hidden in your wallet!).

Mama left us with many gifts, but likely the most important is that taking care of others is one of the most important missions we have in this life. Her two children, her sons-in-law, and her two grandchildren are all working in health related fields. What better way to honor this great lady!