DENVER, Colo. — Jesse Therston Whala, 85, passed away Dec. 27, 2014.
He was born April 19, 1929 in Hayworth, Okla., the son of William and Lessie (Bolt) Whala.
Jesse served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was united in marriage to Mary Maxine Cook on July 29, 1950 in Raton, N.M. Jesse passed on his love of motorcycles to his sons. He touched the lives of everyone he met.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Maxine Whala; sons, Jerry Whala and Bill (Sheri) Whala; a grandson, Chris (Tiffany) Whala; great grandsons, Taylor and Bentley Whala; and a sister, Wilda Lahree (Jack) Merten.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Ruth Oleene Reiser and Naomi Janell Williams.
A memorial service will take place at a later date at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colo.

Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Jan. 7, 2015