Elizabeth Wilson Mcwhinney

Elizabeth W. McWhinney, age 90 of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Friday, June 20, 2003 at Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, July 19, 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Coal Valley, IL. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Coal Valley, Illinois 61240 or the Winnebago County 4-H Foundation, 4311 W. State Street, Rockford, IL 61101. The former Elizabeth Wilson was born on August 23, 1912 in West Liberty, Iowa the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Alice (Trego) Wilson. She married Edgar Lawrence McWhinney on September 11, 1937, he preceded her in death on April 12, 1984. She taught in rural one-room country schools in Muscatine County, Iowa until marrying Edgar L. McWhinney on September 11, 1937 in the family home in West Liberty. She always said that he wore out seven cars in seven years courting her. They settled in rural Orion, IL to raise their family. She led the Western Willing Workers 4-H Club for many years, was a charter member of the local Henry County Home Bureau and volunteered extensively with her church, First Presbyterian Church of Coal Valley. As a young woman, she traveled extensively through the U.S. and Canada. In later years, she often accompanied her husband on cattle buying and other business trips. She took a great interest in genealogy and kept up a prolific correspondence with relatives and friends. In 1996 she wrote her autobiography so that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren "might know something of my life". She aptly titled it, Living Contented. Survivors are Scott (Mariann) McWhinney, Coal Valley and daughter Suzanne McMurry, Rockford. Grandchildren Deann (Bill) Sherlock, Chicago; Jay (Tama) McWhinney, Elmhurst, Christine (Brad) Coats, Beecher; Elizabeth (Tim) Russo, Rockford; Sara (Allyn) Dady, St. Paul, MN; Katy McMurry, Chicago and Rob McMurry Rockford. Great-grandchildren are Alice and Dennis Sherlock; Suzanne and Dori Russo. She is also survived by two sisters, Dorothy Cale and Virginia Kent both of Rock Island; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Wilson, Schaumburg and Virginia McWhinney of Cedar Rapids and many nieces and nephews.