Adra Irene Wharton Age - 97 Gettemy

Adra Irene Wharton Gettemy March 1, 1915 – April 8, 2012\r\nAdra Irene Wharton was born in a family ranch house at 5:30 a.m. on the first day of March in the year of 1915 to Ezra and Susie Wharton, in Gentry County Missouri. When Irene was three years old the family moved to Strasburg Colorado, just east of Denver. Being the oldest of six children, three sisters and two brothers, she helped raise her siblings as well as milking the cow, making butter, and gathering eggs. She rode a horse (which she didn’t name) two miles to school until she was in the eighth grade when the depression hit and her family lost their four-room house and ranch. They packed up their belongings, got in their pickup truck, and drove to Denver to try a new start. For a month they lived in a tent while Irene’s dad began hauling ash for a living. Soon they bought a two-story house and Irene had her own bedroom, the area under the staircase. Rather than ride a horse to school, now she could take the streetcar to school. During the summer months she would pick raspberries at the local farms. A life-altering event happened when Irene was in the eleventh grade and needed a new pair of shoes. Her mother went to the store to buy shoes and came home with bedroom slippers since that was all they could afford. Irene was devastated. She quit school and took a job as a housekeeper for the King family, a local plumber, for $2.50 a week plus room and board. This lasted about a year when she went back home and took a job at Lakeside, a local amusement park, working at the swimming pool. Irene’s best friend during this period was named Dolly. Fortunately for Irene, Dolly’s folks owned a 3.2 bar & gas station, The Blue Moon, where she began working. After four years she took over operation of the Blue Moon and added a studio where she taught dance lessons. It was during this time period that Irene met Willard F. Gettemy on a double blind date. Two years after that they were married and 3 months later World War II started. When they were married Willard was a traveling salesman and Irene would join him on his travels around the country. In 1942 Irene had her first child, Willard A., in Denver. As part of the war effort Willard and Irene were told to report to Pueblo Colorado where Willard was to work on airplane maintenance. While they were in Pueblo, Irene had her second child, Robert. After the war ended they moved back to Denver and Irene had her third and final child, Donald. In 1951, Irene had what she considered the most fortunate circumstance of her life. Willard was asked to come to work at Los Alamos and they gladly accepted. They raised their family and spent the rest of their lives in Los Alamos. If you were in Los Alamos in the early 50’s you might have seen Irene in a 4th of July parade on a float with her troop of cub scouts, as she was one of the first den mothers in town. Or you might have bought a hot dog from her at the baseball fields on North Mesa where she was in charge of the concession stand. If you didn’t get here until the late 50’s or early 60’s you might have eaten a nutritious meal she prepared as head cook at Pueblo Junior High. If you were into knitting and stitching, you might have met her at the local knitting club, or if you were into bowling you might have gone on one of her bowling club trips. Also during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s you may have seen her at the hospital volunteering her time to the hospital auxiliary or the blood mobile, serving snacks to those generous enough to give blood. She managed to squeeze in all these volunteer services in the community when she wasn’t traveling the country in the family motor home, or playing with her grandchildren and great grandchildren at the many family reunions held on her big backyard lawn, or tending and sharing the bounty of her large vegetable garden and raspberry patch with family and neighbors. More recently you could have met her at the White Rock Senior Center where she often opened the doors in the morning and closed the doors in the evening. You may have even had a chance to play pinochle, poker, or dominoes with her. When you talked to her she would tell you how she missed her husband Willard who died in August of 2001, and how proud she was of her sons and their families; Don and wife Gracia who live in Los Alamos; Bob who lives in White Rock, and his grown daughters Sheri and husband Kenyon Warren, and Sara and husband Michael Connolly with daughter Kyra; and Willard A. and wife Debby who live in Pueblo West Colorado and their grown children Glen and wife Jessica with sons Aidan and Elias, Wendy with her children Randy, Sara, and AJ; and Daniel and wife Karen with their adopted daughter Sameayah. Irene was also like a second mother to several of her nieces: Kathy Weymeyer of Maine, Karen McCabe of Colorado, Dianne Gross of Colorado, and Esther Moore of Nevada. Irene spent her final years at Aspen Ridge Assisted Living in Los Alamos, still making new friends at the age of 97. Early Easter morning, April 8, 2012, Adra Irene Gettemy passed peacefully in her sleep, just as she always responded when we bid her goodnight: “I’m ready to go to sleep and forget to wake up in the morning.” We love you and miss you and sing to you one more time, “Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene,” we’ll see you in our dreams, forevermore now. Memorial Service will be held at the White Rock Baptist Church (80 State Rd. 4, Los Alamos, NM 87544), at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2012. In honor of Irene’s giving nature and infinite generosity to family and community, it is requested that in lieu of flowers, donations either be made to the White Rock Baptist Church, or to your favorite local charity or community service organization. The family of Adra Irene Wharton Gettemy have entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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