Alice Grace Whiting

Alice Grace Bateman Whiting

“Grandma Pete”

March 4, 1925– September 18, 2024

Evanston, Wyoming - We announced the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Grace Whiting. She passed quietly in her sleep at the age of 99.5.

Grace was born March 4 1925, in Evanston Wyoming to John Franklin Bateman and Martha Elizabeth Phipps. She was the fourth of eight children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Whiting (1985), parents: JF and Martha (Lizzie) Phipps Bateman, siblings: Martha Joyce, Franklin (Zeke), Ralph, Edna Gerrard, Myrtle Gilmore, Jim. Tom(John Thomas) Bateman is the surviving brother.

She married John William Whiting Sr, December 3rd 1941, in Farmington Utah. Grace graduated from Evanston High School 1942. Grace and Bill raised four children. Peggy Sundberg, John (Billy), Darlene Cottrell, and Wayne.

Grace was the matriarch of her family, She was a devoted mother (4), grandmother (15), great-grandmother (46) and great great grandmother (11). She cultivated deep and lasting relationships with her family. She was involved and present in the life events of her descendants. These relationships were extended late into her life with communications from her children and grandchildren on regular basis. Many traveled long distances to come and stay with Grandma Pete during the summer months, delighting in her warm and loving company, or to shoot off fireworks and to have her potato salad.

She took great delight in custom wrapping Christmas presents for her children and grandchildren. They were one of a kind and brought such delight to the recipient. Recently, she spent Christmas time with her extended family and with her brother Tom. Grace took pleasure in assembling religiously themed puzzles which she would then frame as gifts to the giver.

She was very industrious, strong-willed and determined, making the best of any situation. As an accomplished homemaker she made do with the barest of essentials. At the beginning of her marriage, Grace and Bill lived in a two-room apartment without plumbing and used orange crates as cupboards. She survived admirably after her husband’s death in 1985. Her widowhood lasted 39 years, Amazing Grace lived independently, caring for herself well into her 99th year even though afflicted with aches, pains and difficulties. She would often walk a mile or so on the sidewalks of her neighborhood several times a week, resting as needed on her blue walker’s seat.

She worked for many years at Cazin & Houtz as a self taught, knowledgeable and competent bookkeeper. And, also spent time helping at Evanston’s Senior Center. She had a clear memory and sharp recall. Grace was gifted with a skill and aptitude for doing things well and correct.

In the early years of her marriage she made her children’s school clothes, Later sewing prom and wedding dresses for her daughters or crocheting a christening dress for a neighbor’s infant granddaughter. To the end, Grace enjoyed her crocheting and embroidery work. Many have cherished receiving dish towels from her. Likewise, she always had cookies, cakes and homemade candy at her home for those who visited or sent them to those who needed remembering.

Grace was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the past she served as Relief Society homemaking councilor to Doris Nebeker. Additionally, she served as Primary President. She recalled with fondness the time spent teaching young boys to tie knots and sing primary songs. She decorated her father's pickup truck for the Labor Day parade and won a $100 donation prize for the Primary Children’s Hospital. The primary children were taught dance lessons for the Primary Ball. However, the crowning point of her church service was the 11 years spent as a temple ordinance worker in the Ogden, Utah Temple. She would travel with Fred and Jane Kallas once a week to serve there. In her journal, she reports it as being one of the most eventful, spiritual and important activities of her life. It brought her closer to her Savior and she established deep and long-lasting friendships with those she served with.

Grace traveled extensively through the years, often going on bus tours with her sister Myrtle Gilmore and Peggy on vacations to LDS church sites and a cruise to Hawaii, in addition, to Alaska with Billy (John) and Linda Underwood and finally to Europe with the Sundbergs. Grace loved to travel every chance she had. She was a devout shopper and spent many enjoyable hours “just looking” with her daughters, Peggy and Darlene. RaeLynn Whiting also joined in these mega shopping trips!

We will all cherish our relationships we had and the time spent with Grandma Pete. We are most grateful to her for being a pillar of strength and the example of loving friendship and human kindness. Her example and demonstrated testimony in the Lord Jesus Christ will bless and guide her posterity for generations to come. We love you Grandma Pete! ~ JTB.