Carla Whitley, Formerly Of Glennallen & Delta Junction, Passes Away

In Playful Tradition, Whitley Family Named Kids & Grandkids "Summer," "Windy," "Misty," "Rainy,"...

In Playful Tradition, Whitley Family Named Kids & Grandkids "Summer," "Windy," "Misty," "Rainy," "Breezy" & "Stormy" 

Carla Whitley 


Our loving mother and amazing grandmother, Carla G (Parrish) Whitley, 69, of Bridge, Oregon, unexpectedly passed away on May 18, 2022, at her daughters’ home in Washington. Carla was born on October 6, 1952, to Norman “Wally" and Myra Parrish in Myrtle Point, Oregon.

Our mom's kind-hearted soul will live on, though the absence of her day-to-day presence will leave a huge hole in our hearts.

Carla graduated from Myrtle Point High School in 1970. During her high school years and after graduation, Carla spent time working at Diamond Lake Resort prior to marrying John J. Whitley of Lakeside, Oregon.

Carla and John married February 20, 1971, and they welcomed their first daughter, Summer, in December 1971 followed by Misty in July 1973, and daughter Windy in April 1978. Our parents SWEAR they weren’t hippies when they named us.

The Whitleys relocated to Glennallen, Alaska in April of 1985 where they established their family roots and raised their daughters. John’s line of work often steered him away from home for long periods of time, which led to Carla’s career as a domestic engineer. Carla held the household together. Her care providing career didn’t end when her daughters were grown; she often was the main caretaker for her grandchildren.

After daughter Windy graduated, our mom joined our dad in Delta Junction, Alaska. During her time in Delta Junction, our mom often had a grandkid in tow. She spent a lot of time with the first bundle of grandchildren, Adara, Tanner, and Rainy. Carla is well known to the Delta Junction class of 2008, as the class grandma. She was the grandma that chaperoned school field trips, instigated water fights, and always helped wherever needed.

The second bundle of grandchildren included Katelyn, Stormy, Emma, Dylan, and Breezy. The third bundle was Cannon, two great-grandchildren Kayzee and Carsin, and a third great grandchild is expected in September 2022. Family was always a high priority to our parents, and it showed. It wasn’t uncommon for our friends growing up or a grandchild to refer to our parents as their parents. Everyone who crossed paths with our parents felt valued and loved.

Carla resided in Delta Junction until relocating back to Bridge, Oregon in April of 2012 to spend time with her parents Wally and Myra Parrish. Our Dad retired in November 2014 but remained on as a contractor with plans to return to the states to reunite with family. It was always our family’s intent to be close and within driving distance. Our Mom loved her family and having her family close by was important.

After a car accident in July 2012, it led to other major health challenges for our mom. Over the past few years, she survived uterine cancer, major open-heart surgery, and the installation of a pacemaker. Then the stage four breast cancer diagnosis arrived which had spread to her hip bone and back.  She spent the last year traveling to Seattle monthly for her cancer treatments and heart checkups; her heart continued to give her fits.

On May 9, 2022, our mom discovered a couple of additional lumps out of the ordinary. We quickly were able to get her seen in Seattle on May 16 and were waiting to receive the results on May 23, 2022. Over the past week our mom thought she had felt abnormal heart rhythms. On May 18, 2022, after a short visit with one of her granddaughters, she laid down for a mid-morning rest…now she has joined our father as a spirit in the sky and is free of pain. Our parents are watching over all of us with the values they instilled and the life lessons and Sugar Bear words of wisdom they equipped us with.

Carla is survived by her three daughters: Summer Fellow (spouse Jim) of Delta Junction, Alaska; Misty Lanegan (spouse Josh) of Granite Falls, Washington; and Windy Luhrs (spouse John) of Bridge, Oregon. Her mother Myra Parrish of Bridge, Oregon; her dear friend/sister Kathy and Jeff Anderson family of Eugene, Oregon; sister-in-law Geta Farmer and family of Lakeside, Oregon; and brother-in-law Ted Whitley and family of Lopez Island, Washington.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Adara Smith (spouse Terry, and children Kayzee and Carsin of Coquille, Oregon); Tanner Knighten of Anchorage, Alaska; Rainy Knighten (and expecting baby boy in September 2022) of Montana; Breezy Fellows of Delta Junction; Katelyn Gene-Lanegan and Emma Lanegan of Granite Falls, Washington; Stormy Jones, Dylan Jones, and Cannon Jones of Bridge, Oregon.

She is preceded in death by her husband John Whitley who passed away August 2015 and her father Wally Parrish who passed in November 2012.

Carla and John will be laid to rest together at the Roseburg Veterans Cemetery. A private ceremony will be held for close family members. Once arraignments are finalized, family members will be notified.

A celebration for Carla will be announced soon. Condolences may be sent to any of the following addresses:

Summer Fellows: PO Box 100; Delta Junction, Alaska 99737 / fellows_59@msn.com / 406-565-0601.

Misty Lanegan: 21232 36TH ST NE; Granite Falls, Washington 98252 / mis.whitley@gmail.com / 907-529-8022.

Windy Luhrs: 51995 Big Creek Road; Myrtle Point, Oregon 97248 / windy.jones6@gmail.com / 541-294-6140.

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