Almeda Mae Whitmire, age 95, of Grants Pass, died June 1,2025 at Countryside Village.
Almeda Mae Whitmire, age 95, of Grants Pass, Oregon passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 1, 2025. She was born to Neale and Elizabeth Pratt on July 19, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri. At the age of two, her parents moved their family to Mora, Minnesota where she grew up and graduated from Mora High School in 1947. That same year she moved west with her family where they settled in Oregon. On March 27, 1948, she married the love of her life, Earl (Bud) Whitmire in Yuma, AZ. Bud and Almeda enjoyed living in many places while he served in the United States Navy. In 1949 they started a family and began the journey of raising three boys, Larry, Gary (Skip) and Jay. In 1952 Bud was discharged from his ship in Boston, Massachusetts and they moved to Grants Pass, OR. Bud joined the Grants Pass Police Department and retired after 31 years of dedicated service. Almeda was employed by Josephine County where she retired as the Tax Collector after 26 years of service. Although her job was stressful, she had a reputation for being fair to the public and sensitive to the needs of the employees she managed. She served as the President of “Oregon Tax Collectors”, Zonta International, Dine and Discovery and was active in Paint Your Heart Out.
Almeda’s top priority was to leave a legacy of faith and service to those around her. As a young woman she taught Sunday School and played the piano at church. She was involved in Christian Women’s Club and a member of River Valley Church for seventy years where she sang in the choir, served as a counselor in youth ministry, started “Anna’s Group” to reach out to widows and often called on homebound people and those in need. Perhaps her greatest gift was that of optimism and her ability to lift others with her encouraging words and faithful prayers. She lived her faith through actions and cherished the quote, "The more love we give, the more we can offer."
Almeda loved to read, listen to music and spend time with her family and friends. She also loved to travel and enjoyed family trips to Arizona, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii and even a cruise through the French Polynesia. One favorite memory occurred when, at over 80 years old, she rode a jet ski in the South Pacific with sharks and sting rays nearby.
Almeda’s faith in Jesus Christ gave her the hope and faith to live each day. She was a strong mother who raised men of character and poured into the lives of her family. Almeda was preceded in death by the loss of her husband, Bud, and sons Jay and Skip, sisters Helen and Rosemarie, and brothers Eugene, Clarence and Harold. She is survived by her son, Larry and daughter-in-law Penny, daughter-in-law Jan Whitmire, nieces, Bonnie (Jack) Broer, Peggy (Pratt) Olson (Jim), and Wanda Koch, nephews Jim Pratt, Donny (Janet) Pratt, Gene (Nadine) Pratt and Mike (Denise) Pratt, grandchildren Monica (Scott) Lemke, Jake (Michelle) Whitmire, Brittany Whitmire, Kara (Whitmire) Erwen, Christine Whitmire, and Jessica Whitmire. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Sydney, Brady, Josiah and Jaylee.
Almeda will be remembered for her love of God and the people He placed in her life. A memorial service will be held at River Valley Church in Grants Pass on June 27th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor can be made to River Valley Church.
Please share a memory of Almeda in her Guestbook.
River Valley Church
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