Margie Whaley, 79, a resident of Leavenworth for the past 57 years, died Friday morning, April 22, 2005, at her home.

She was born Margie Rayfield to George Newton and Martha Ellen (Barnes) Rayfield on November 5, 1925, in Greenbrier, Sevier County, Tennessee. In 1932, the family moved to the Bird's Creek area near Sevierville, where Margie attended the Shady Grove School and later the Pittman Center High School. She later worked at the M. & O. Tea Room at Gatlinburg. On October 7, 1945, she married Fred A. Whaley at Dalton, Georgia and they made their first home in Sevier County, Tennessee. In 1948, they moved to Leavenworth to make their home. She worked for several years at the Independent Fruit Warehouse in Peshastin as a checker and was later employed by the Leavenworth School District as a cook for many years. Margie was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and also attended the Mount Calvary Primitive Baptist Church in Dryden. Together with Fred, they took pride in their ability to raise a bountiful garden which they shared with family and friends. She loved her family immensely and was always very proud of their accomplishments.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Fred "Sonny" and Gail Whaley of Arlington and daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Dennis McMahon of Leavenworth; three sisters, Rosetta Dunn and Alice Watson both of Leavenworth and Lillard Noland of Peshastin; a brother, Floyd Rayfield of Peshastin; five grandchildren, Amy Burmester, Brock McMahon, Tyree McMahon, Heather Whaley and Christa Whaley; two great-grandsons, Cain Burmester and Dustin Whaley; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred in 1997; four brothers, Walter, Roosevelt, Amos, and Oliver Rayfield; two sisters, Lora Ogle and Laurinda Ogle; and one great-grandson, Michael Alvis Burmester.

A Funeral Service of Commemoration to Celebrate the Life of Margie Whaley, will be conducted at 1:00 o'clock Thursday afternoon, April 28, 2005, in the Ward's Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Bob Jackson, officiating. The family will receive friends between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening, April 27, 2005, in the Ward's Funeral Chapel. Those who wish may make a memorial in her name to the Mount Calvary Primitive Baptist Church, 6860 Olalla Canyon Road, Cashmere, Washington 98815 or the Charity of one's choice. Concluding Service and Interment will follow in the Mt. View Cemetery.

Ward's Funeral Chapel, Leavenworth, is in charge of the arrangements.