MENDOTA - Marjorie E. (Whitaker) Dawdy, 98, of Mendota, passed away Oct. 2, 2019 at Heritage Health, Mendota.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 the Merritt Funeral Home. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral on Oct. 5.

Marjorie was born Oct. 6, 1920 in rural Modesto the oldest of eight children of Loy O. and Dollie (Thompson) Whitaker. She married Harley E. Dawdy in Cyrene, Mo. in 1942. He preceded her in death on Feb. 14, 1990 in Mendota.

Survivors include grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Marjorie and Harley had two adopted children, Harry James Dawdy who died in 1993 and Mary Lee Shadden Dawdy in 2013. Her mother died on March 29, 1934, the result of childbirth complications with Marjorie’s youngest sibling. Marjorie was 13 years old and being from a family of eight children, ages infant to 13, during the Depression she dropped out of school to care for and raise her brothers and sisters, all of whom preceded her in death. They include Ruth Eileen Whitaker Nance in 2001, Earl Edwin Whitaker in 1943, Alta Faye Whitaker Moran in 2009, Samuel Eugene Whitaker in 1997, Dorothy Fern Whitaker Craig in 1994, Barbara Jean Whitaker Forrestall in 1999 and Eleanor Mae Whitaker Whitehurst in 1996.

Marjorie worked in several hospitals and nursing homes always being the caregiver. She later went to work for United Airlines, which allowed her to travel a great deal. After retiring, she and Harley moved to Mendota where she enjoyed playing bingo and going to riverboat casinos.

Memorials in her honor are suggested to M.A.S.S (Mendota Area Senior Services).