PRATT — M’Kala Jill (Bobbitt) Whitson was born June 6, 1969, to Bob and Beverly Bobbitt in Houma, La. She was the youngest child with three siblings: brother Scott (Patti) of Harper, Kan., and sisters Kathy (Jon) Chamberlain of Prairieville, La., and Lesli (Ed) Miles of Canton, Kan. The family moved back to Great Bend, Kan. when she was a few months old where she grew up and attended school graduating in the class of 1987. Her daughter KaiLei Megan was born in 1989 and shortly after she began her life’s work as a daycare provider in Great Bend.
M’Kala met her husband Ted in 1999 and they were married June 2, 2001, in Pratt, Kan. Ted had three children and she openly admitted to falling in love with the kids before him. After their marriage M’Kala opened her daycare in Pratt. In 2003 M’Kala and Ted became foster parents. Their first long-term placement came in March 2006 when two sisters came into their lives. The girls quickly became part of their household and their older sister Alicia even lived with the family for two years. In 2008 the two girls were adopted. M’Kala and Ted’s children are Linn (Jeremy) Walters of Olathe, Kan.; KaiLei Petz of Pratt, Kan.; Anelise (Kevin) Towne of Wichita, Kan.; Jakob (Ryna-Ria) Whitson of Pratt, Kan.; Brittany Whitson of Osborn, Kan., and Cassie Whitson of the home. M’Kala’s eight grandchildren - Carter, Tripp, Lilly, Arlo, Maisy, Emma, Nora and Hazel-Dean - had the most special place in her life. Mimi could always be counted on for unconditional love and sweets. She is preceded in death by her parents and brother and leaves behind many nieces and nephews and other family as well as countless friends across the country.
Over the years M’Kala loved and nurtured hundreds of children in her home. Caring for children, especially babies, was her passion and heart’s delight. Not only were the children cared for but also many anxious new parents relied on M’Kala’s knowledge and comfort. She was a bright spot in the world and will be missed by all.
A celebration of M’Kala’s life will be held April 16th, 2022, at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt at 10 a.m. followed by a meal and an Easter Egg hunt for all at Lemon Park, East Shelter, Pratt. Inurnment will be take place at a later date at Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt. Memorials may be made to the Pratt Public Library for the children’s reading room in care of Larrison Mortuary. Online condolences may be left at www.larrisonmortuary.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Larrison Mortuary
300 Country Club Rd.
Pratt, KS 67124
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 6, 2022
