Lores McBee Whitaker, 92, of Black Mountain, passed away Tuesday at Memorial Mission Hospital.
She was a native of Spruce Pine, NC and was the daughter of the late Ed and Nellie McBee. She attended Mars Hill College and graduated from Asheville Teachers College.
During World War II she did her part on the home front as a “Rosie the Riveter” building air planes in Baltimore, Maryland.
Lores was married to and loved dearly Dempsey Whitaker. They were happily married on November 11, 1944 and remained happy throughout their 67 year marriage. She and Dempsey owned and operated Lormay’s Dry Good Store at the corner of State Street and Montreat Road in Black Mountain and Lores was a dedicated public school teacher for thirty three years, teaching first grade in Spruce Pine and at Black Mountain Primary, where she gave generations of students a wonderful beginning. Lores retired in 1975. Over the years her students still remembered her fondly, and continually showed their appreciation when they saw her or kept in touch, many becoming good friends.
Mrs. Whitaker was a charter member of the Spruce Pine Central Baptist church and was a faithful and active member of Black Mountain United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School for 25 years and belonged to the Sarah Circle of the United Methodist Women.
She was a member of the American Home and Civic Club, the Black Mountain Junior Women’s Club, Beta Gamma Pi Society and the NC Association of Educators.
Lores stayed active in life until the end. She always went out of her way to be helpful and to enjoy time with friends and family. She passed her DMV road test to renew her driver’s license at 90 and continued driving into this year.
Lores was a loving and wonderful mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. She was an inspiration in her families lives and helped make them who they are today. They all loved her, adored her and will miss her dearly.
She is survived by her husband, Dempsey Whitaker; daughter, Renne`, son-in-law, Steve Ensley; grandsons, Matthew and Tucker; sister, Marjorie Pittman, of Spruce Pine; nieces, Pat Parker and Pam Bussom; and nephews, James Gresham Northcott, Clifford Pittman Jr., Reed Whitaker, and David and Jim McBee. She also loved and counted as family her many, many friends. She felt blessed to live among a wonderful group of neighbors.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Belle Parker, Maye Northcott, Faye McBee, June Porter, Pearl McBee, Nelle McBee; and brothers, Earl, Glen, Edgar, Jack and James Kirk McBee .
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 2:30 pm, at Black Mountain United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Mountain View Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 21, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, at Harwood Home for Funerals.
Flowers are accepted and appreciated, those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider Black Mountain United Methodist Church, Roofing Fund, PO Box 517, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

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