Troy L. Whitaker, 85, of Osceola, died Saturday, July 22, 2006, at the South Mississippi County Regional Medical center in Osceola. Born Feb. 10, 1921, in Corinth, Miss., to Annie Bowen Whitaker and Maltie Whitaker, he married Ruby Lee Whaley on Nov. 3, 1940, in Helena and moved to Osceola in 1955. After working in a local body shop for several years, he opened Whitaker's Body Shop which they operated for over 40 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church for 50 years.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruby Whitaker of Osceola; two sons, Charles Whitaker and his wife, Gwenda, of Caraway, and Jimmie Whitaker and his wife, Becky, of Osceola; a daughter, Mary Ann Marsden and her husband, Joe, of Paragould; six grandchildren, David and Jeffrey Whitaker, Teresa Lowery, Michael Marsden and LeeAnn and James Whitaker; and four great-grandchildren, Christine Whitaker, Talon Lowery and Nicholas and Connie Whitaker.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marie Nichols.

A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mississippi County Memorial Gardens in Osceola with Rev. Joe Marsden officiating. His six grandchildren served as honorary pallbearers.

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