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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2020)
6 Wednesday, October 7, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Obituaries LaLa Vernon Debari Charles Glen Whitman December 12, 2002 – October 1, 2020 March 13, 1935 — September 29, 2020 With overwhelming grief and sadness we share that our darling, darling spar- kling light of a daughter Lala, was killed in a traffic incident on October 1. She was in the car with two other girls, one of whom was her best friend from California, Amelie Shae Locke, who also died at the scene. All the girls were wearing seat belts but the driver lost con- trol of the car and all three girls died at the scene. Lala was born on December 12, 2002 at 12:02 p.m. in Santa Rosa, California to Wendy Vernon and Dominic Debari. She lived in the woods of Mendocino County for her first year and then relocated to Sisters. She had a wild and wondrous time playing in Little Sisters Outlaws, then Miss Evelyn9s, as well as the Redmond Early Intervention program. While a student at Sisters Elementary School, she discovered her fantastical storytelling skills, that she was freaked out by all the testing, and loved to sing and dance. She was a Daisy, Junior, and Cadette Girl Scout and particularly loved the service component col- lecting monies for victims in Haiti, the Philippines disas- ter, and Animals in Need. Lala played softball in middle school and as a lefty was desired, could hit pretty much any ball, but didn9t really get the game and no one who attended the Redmond fields game will ever forget Lala carry- ing her bat with her to sec- ond base. So she wasn9t a softball player, but she was a singer, writer, and dancer. Lala loved hip-hop dance tremendously. She took classes in Sisters, Bend, Portland, Berkeley and Vancouver. In her free time the music went on and the body started to move. When she wasn9t dancing she was writing stories, drawing, and singing. Lala was a movie buff and happily shared and discussed details about the multitudes of movies she had seen. Lala had parents that loved to travel and she got to do a lot of it: Hawaii many times; Vietnam; Thailand; Hongkong; Italy; New York; Mexico; California; Canada; Washington; Nevada& She loved the adventure and couldn9t wait to begin her own new life post gradua- tion, hoping that it would be in New York. And Lala Charles Glen Whitman, 85, passed away on Tuesday, September 29. Charles, known as Glen, was born in Bend to Minnie Louise (Hanneman) Whitman and Charles Henry Whitman on March 13, 1935. Glen was the second child of six siblings and had two half-siblings. While he attended Bend High School, he worked for Trailway Buses. After gradu- ating, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Bend and developed a passion for for- estry that would be the focus of his professional career. His forestry career was interrupted when he joined the U.S. Army and served as a Military Policeman stationed at Fort Sill. While at Fort Sill, he married Charlotte Ann (Crawford) Whitman in 1960. After discharge from the U.S. Army, Glen returned to Central Oregon to begin his family with Charlotte. They had three children: Charles Jay Whitman, Christopher Eric Whitman, and Cally Whitman. They were also foster parents for many years. Glen continued his 32-year career with the U.S. Forest Service, working as a Fire Boss and Forestry Technician. The Whitman family also operated a farm in Tumalo. After his Forest Service retirement, Glen had a second career as a janitor for the Sisters School District for 13 years. He loved his family, dancing, travel, volunteering was a phenomenal reader: the classics; contemporary fiction; relational stories... always something in her hands to read. She hiked the outdoors and many new trails, often grudgingly, but a participant by the end. Lala had many lov- ing friends and interesting acquaintances. She was gen- erally polite (her foul mouth was completely her mother9s fault) and always kind to a stranger. That is what Lala did, and Lala was so much more. She was a wonder- fully kind, naive, empathic, sarcastic, loving friend, girl- friend, niece, cousin, faux granddaughter (adopted by many sets of grandpar- ents). Most importantly she was the most spectacular daughter: loving; kind; cre- ative; spontaneous; irksome; nature-driven; culture- driven; socially conscious; and a fierce advocate for the underdog. She protested for what she felt was right and against what she perceived as wrong. We have been as proud of her as any parents could ever be. She will for- ever be our sparkling star, our reason for being and we miss her more than anyone can comprehend. Memorial services will be held in the field across from Sister Middle School, Friday, October 9, at 3 p.m. Please park at Sisters Middle School and drivers with special needs will be accommodated. The field is rough, so strong shoes are suggested. Please bring your own chair if you wish to sit. Social distancing will be required and masks are mandatory 4 many older relatives will be in atten- dance in honor of Lala. Please honor them and each other with social distancing and wearing a mask. There will be music, sharing, and perhaps some dancing. Please consider yourself invited to celebrate our wonder-full daughter. Thanks to all who have been so supportive as we navigate this nightmare. Obituaries Policy: The Nugget Newspaper does not charge a fee to publish obituaries. Obituaries may be up to 400 words and include one photo. Obituaries outside these guidelines are handled by The Nugget Newspaper advertising department. Obituary submissions must be received by noon on Monday. Obituaries may be submitted to The Nugget by email or hand delivery to our office located at 442 E. Main Ave., Sisters. for numerous clubs and causes, being a member of the Elks, antique cars, Central Oregon history, and gardening. Glen was preceded in death by wives, Charlotte Ann Whitman and Rosemary (Krumvieda) Whitman; as well as a brother, Robert (Bobby) Whitman; half- brother, Archie (Bud) Whitman; sisters, Doris (Whitman) Wilson and Juanita May (Whitman) Foster-Pike; and a half- sister, Virginia (Whitman) Pepper Swietz. He is survived by his wife, Lorena (Bliven) Whitman; a brother, Dennis Wayne Whitman; a sister, Maxine Florence Whitman; sons, Charles Jay Whitman and Christopher Eric Whitman; a daughter, Cally Whitman; granddaugh- ters, Tabitha Whitman and Christa Whitman; and great- grandchildren, Brayden, Charlotte, and Madison. His family takes com- fort in knowing that he is at peace and dancing in Heaven. But we will miss his question: <Are you stayin9 outta trouble?= There will be a pub- lic viewing at Niswonger- Reynolds Funeral Home on October 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. The family will hold a small, graveside memorial service on October 9, at 1 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery. For those uncomfortable attend- ing a memorial service at this time, a Celebration of Life is planned for summer 2021. In lieu of flowers, dona- tions may be made to the American Cancer Society in Glen9s name. Please visit the online registry for the family at www.niswonger-reynolds. com. SUSAN COBB FOR CITY COUNCIL... I care about y you! cobb4citycouncil@gmail.com This ad paid for by Susan Cobb.