Jerry Lee Whitney

Jerry Lee Whitney, age 76, of Quincy, died on Friday, April 1, 2022 at 5:10 pm in Blessing Hospital. He was born October 29, 1945 in Lawton, Oklahoma, the son of John and Marie Tallon Whitney. He married Karen Wiggins on January 15, 1966 in Montebello, California. She survives. Jerry served in the United States Navy from 1963 until 1972, during which time he was deployed to seven tours in Viet Nam. Jerry had been employed by the United States Post Office as a distribution clerk. He also acted as a National Arbitration Advocate for the Postal Union, and he was a past president of the Illinois Postal Workers Union. After Jerry retired from the Post Office, he helped at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home as a funeral assistant. Jerry was also very active with TNT Go Cart Races, and he helped with the YMCA Little League. Jerry was an active member of the Salvation Army in Quincy, where he served on the Advisory Board and the Corps Council. He was part of the Salvation Army Emergency Service Disaster team, helping people around the country and at home, most notably during the 1993 Mississippi flood and after Hurricane Katrina. Jerry also drove the youth bus and was a lon...[more]

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ime cook for the Salvation Army, and he especially enjoyed serving meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Jerry was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball and QHS Blue Devils basketball fan. In his spare time, Jerry and Karen enjoyed buying and selling antiques at flea markets. In addition to his wife, survivors include his daughter, Cynthia Ann Whitney of Quincy; six grandchildren: Emily (Corey) Muscavitz, Stephen (Megan) Whitney, Rebecca Gordon, Trevor Gordon, Beth Chriscoe, and Erin Gordon, all of Quincy; 10 great grandchildren: Lillie and Mykela Muscavitz; Hannah and Alyvia Gordon, Abagail Chriscoe, Kessler, Kearney and Ferrah Roberts, and Kendrick and Miles Whitney; a brother, Frank (Shelly) Whitney of Roach, Missouri; a sister, Deanna (John) Schisler of Coatsburg, IL; and several nieces and nephews. Jerry was preceded in death by his mother Marie Whitney, his father and step-mother, John and Hermaline Whitney, and his son, Steven John Whitney. Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, April 8, 2022 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Jerry's requested that anyone with appropriate Cardinal's attire wear it to the visitation. Services: 10:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at the Salvation Army Kroc Center (405 Vermont Street), with Majors Jim and Paulette Frye and Majors Trevor and Shelley McClintock officiating. Burial: Shiloh Cemetery, Plainville, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army Youth Program. Memorial donations may be made online at https://memorials.hansenspear.com/ www.hansenspear.com Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.