Mildred Howell Whiston passed away the morning of Sunday, December 3, 2023, in the Lewis County Nursing Home, Canton, Missouri, at the age of 102.

Mildred was born March 20, 1921, in Woodland, Missouri, in the home of her grandparents, to Ralph and Mary Howell Barkley. 

She married Bryon Whiston on February 3, 1940. He preceded her in death on December 7, 1999, after 59 years of marriage.

Mildred and Bryon were living in New Mexico when World War II began. When her husband went to serve in the Navy, Mildred returned to Canton and became a certified welder, manufacturing parts to aid in the war effort. 

After the war, Mildred and her husband started and co-owned Bryon Whiston Construction, later becoming Whiston Construction Company, Inc. She remained bookkeeper of that company until the age of 97. 

Mildred enjoyed life on her farm. Her hobbies included walking among her cattle (often naming them), gardening, and canning. She loved her dogs and, most of all, her family. Her cooking was, and will remain, legendary. 

Against her wishes, her sons Mike and Mark took away her chainsaw at the age of 90. She continued tending her flowers and mowing her own yard for several years after that.  

Mildred was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Saint Ann’s Alter Society. She was also a 4-H Club Leader. 

Mildred is survived by her five children, Mary (Charles) Haley, Jeanette (Jon) Headrick, Lou (Chuck) Thompson, Mike (Debby) Whiston, and Mark (Deanne) Whiston; 11 grandchildren, Christina (Ron) Martin, Bryon Haley, Matt (Jennifer) Haley, Karl (Sara) Haley, Chase (Becky) Thompson, Nick Whiston, Jenna Whiston, Ryan (Briana) Whiston, Jason (Linda) Whiston, Jeff (Cindy) Whiston, Greg (Lauren) Whiston; and 18 great-grandchildren. 

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Kenneth Barkley, and a grandson, Benjamin Whiston. 

A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Shrine of St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Patrick. The co-presiders will be Fr. Rob Fields and Fr. Callistus Okoroji. The burial will be in Forest Grove Cemetery, Canton, Missouri. Visitation was held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Home in Canton, with a Rosary Service at 4:45 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Lewis County Nursing Home or St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in care of Davis Funeral Home, P.O. Box 108, Canton, MO  63435. 

Pallbearers will be: Chase Thompson, Jason Whiston, Jeff Whiston, Greg Whiston, Karl Haley, Bryon Haley, Matt Haley, Nick Whiston, and Ryan Whiston. 

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