FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
Edward Joseph “Ed” Whitaker
7th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin
Note: born Warren Joseph Whitaker, his name was changed to Edward shortly after birth when his father died
Born: Dec 20, 1914, Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Mar 19, 1978 (age 63), Temple City, Los Angeles Co., California; phlebitis
Interred: Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Military Service: WWII, US Navy
Occupation: Bartender, card dealer at the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
Married (1): Toni Adelle (maiden name unkn)
Married (2): bet 1955 – 1958, Frances Mae “Fran/Kitty” (Coffman) Scarritt
Separated or divorced bef 1968
No children
Frances Mae “Fran/Kitty” Coffman
1st of 3 children of Grover Benjamin Joseph Coffman & Violet Erine Williams
Born: Oct 6, 1917, Indiana
Died: Aug 12, 1968 (age 50), Temple City, Los Angeles Co., California; of cancer
Buried: Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Los Angeles Co., California
Married (1): Oct 8, 1932, Earl Marvin Dye, Santa Ana, Orange Co., California
Divorced: abt 1933, Earl Marvin Dye, Los Angeles Co., California
No children
Married (2): Jul 9, 1934, Winfield Thayer Scarritt, Los Angeles Co., California
Divorced: bet 1955 & 1958
One child: Lou Ann Scarritt (1935 – 2011)
Married (3): bet 1955 & 1958, Edward Joseph “Ed” Whitaker
Separated or divorced bef 1968
No children
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Timeline and Records
Seven children of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker:
1. Vera Stanislaus Whitaker
1903 – 1983
2. Leonard Fenley “Len” Whitaker
1905 – 1965
3. Zelda Beatrice Whitaker
1907 – 1989
4. Donald Edward Whitaker
1909 – 1995
5. Melvin Lawrence Whitaker
1911 – 1943
6. Thelma Marie Whitaker
1912 – 1996
7. Edward Joseph “Ed” Whitaker
1914 – 1978
Three children of Grover Benjamin Joseph Coffman & Violet Erine Williams:
1. Frances Mae “Fran/Kitty” Coffman
1917 – 1965
2. Joseph Samuel “Sam” Coffman
1920 – 1987
3. James William “Jim” Coffman
1923 – 1985
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Dec 20, 1914: Birth of Edward Joseph Whitaker, 7th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
Apr 28, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 37) to her sister, Mamie Rosborough (age 27):
Spokane, Wash.
April 28, 1915
My dear Sister,
They do funny things in a queer way in Baker, the children were not to make their first communion until in May or June and I fully intended to make Zelda (age 8) a pair of white drawers and to make that white dress over for her, it does look so Dutchy and the sleeves are so old fashioned and short and if you will go down with Len and get him a pair of black or darkest blue pants, serge I guess, he has nothing to wear excepting those brown ones and you will have to buy Zelda a pair of white drawers and take Len’s coat, the one Howard used to wear, to the tailor and have him fix the pocket he ought to do that for 50 cents I should think and I’ll get some money from Mr. Lumsden when I get back and make good what you are out while I am gone. I guess you will have to get Zelda enough wide white ribbon for a belt for her Dutchy dress also. I got her a hair ribbon before I left and intended to curl her hair for the occasion.
How much I am making out for you to do in such a short time, but just do your best dear sister and maybe I can do something for you some day but please God not under the same circumstances.
Mamie, if you could only see my poor boy – but I am glad you will remember him as you last saw him. Now his poor bones almost stick through the skin and the skin on his face is almost beyond describing.
His trouble has turned into a cancer and he is a horrible sight and how he prays for God to take him away before he becomes so repulsive that no one will want to come near him, just as though that could ever be.
The Dr. comes every morning to dress his poor face and head and it is becoming so terrible painful to him, he never makes a sound but just quivers and trembles all over. I don’t think there was ever a more pitiful case and he is so very very patient. He is reading your letter now and do you know he still dresses every morning and when necessary goes out to the closet. Isn’t his vitality wonderful and if he had even the smallest chance for life he would out live it, but he never asks for his life any more, only to be taken away soon.
Tell the children papa sends them his love and says for them to love and mind Aunt Mamie and what ever they do to never forget or neglect their religion what ever they do.
Tell them to offer up their first communion that they may never never fall into mortal sin and that Howard will be a good catholic and that papa’s end here may be quiet and peaceful and for a happy death for us all and if it be God’s will to yet make papa well.
And now I must close for today. Tell all the children to be good.
Lovingly your sister,
Ada
Note: Ada’s sister Mamie, is caring for Ada & Ed’s children. So he could be closer to his doctors, Ed and Ada are living in one room with their four-month-old baby, Edward Joseph Whitaker) at Ed’s parents’ house in Spokane, who are extremely unkind to Ada throughout this ordeal.
Nancy & Fred Whitaker, Ed’s parents
May 14, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker to her sister Mamie and Ada’s children who are staying with Mamie:
Spokane, Wash.
May 14, 1915
My dear Sister & Children –
Isn’t this cold, wet weather just awful and it makes one feel so lonesome and dreary.
Your letter and the one from Howard just came and I thought we would get one from Mr. Lumsden also but did not. I had a telegram from Mr. Strayer yesterday and he said a letter would follow so will get that in a few days now. I am glad you are getting along nicely and only hope all will stay well.
The baby coughs real hard but not often and mostly at night.
It still stays cold and very windy here but the cool weather is far better for poor Ed than the warm would be. I wish I might write you something encouraging about Ed’s condition but can’t, not yet anyway. Ed seems to get a little thinner and thinner every day and a little quieter. The sight has gone from his right eye entirely and he said this morning that the left eye hurts him now and it begins to look bad. You should see what quantities of morphine he takes – 15 and 20 gr and 25 grams some times in 24 hrs.
If Howard sends any pictures you can send them to me please. Doesn’t he write a poor hand and compose a childish letter for a boy 16 yrs. old? I wonder if after Ed is gone, I’ll have any trouble getting Howard home, in case I need and want him. I don’t believe I will. Well dear, I will write every two or three days and if you find time, do the same. Do you have any trouble with Thelma and Mildred quarreling and Melvin’s stubborness?
Did I tell you that Ed wants to be taken home to be buried. If you see Mr. Strayer again, ask him what I can do about it for I can not afford it now but could pay the expenses in the future, if he thinks that the expense could be put up when necessary.
If you see and talk to him, what he has to say write on a separate paper since Ed won’t see it for he always asks for your letters.
Mamie, the hole in Ed’s face now reaches from his nose right up to under his eye and straight across to his temple, then clear down his nose and a little below, straight across his cheek it is almost in a square and yet I can’t believe he is to be taken away. You never saw such a skelaton as he is, no meat at all, simply the skin and mussel drawn over his bare bones. And now he is getting bed sores, poor boy. It is pitiful to see and watch.
Love to all,
Your loving sister, Ada
Note: Mr. William Henry Strayer (b. 1866) was an attorney in Baker, Oregon
May 18, 1915: Letter from Ada Whitaker (age 37) to her young children:
Spokane, Wash
May 18, 1915
My dear little Children all –
Mamma hasn’t much to write to you only to ask you to be good. I received your letters yesterday but poor papa could not read them, but I did and was glad to get them.
Now Vera you know what you ought to do and can do to help Aunt Mamie. You can wash the dishes and on Saturday and Sunday sweep the kitchen and pantry and your bed room has to be straightened up every week and Zelda must help with the dishes and wash Thelma and empty the slops and try to keep things picked up in the bedroom and help dress the little ones in the morning and Len’s business I guess he knows, to get the wood and kindling, make the fires, empty the ashes, shake the mats and make your own bed and feed and water the chickens.
And don’t any of you go to communion unless you are sure you have no sin on your souls, and every time you go to confession tell every thing you can remember both great and small and then you will make no mistake and leave nothing out, you know it would be a most terrible thing not to tell everything in confession.
And tell Donald and Melvin to try and be good for I have told Aunt Mamie to make her a good paddle and to use it on all alike when they need from Thelma up. How does she get along, does she seem to miss her mamma?
You will have to look after Melvin the most. Vera you know how stubborn he is and Aunt Mamie won’t want to exactly kill him, altho she may feel like it so you take him in hand and relieve her of some of the trouble, and do lots of little things to help her for remember she is doing what very very few would do for us and it is hard work and lots of it.
It is going to rain again and we are so tired of it and I guess you are also.
When does your school let out? There was a big fire here last night. A six story building all burned to the ground.
You wouldn’t know your poor papa now he is so very thin and I don’t know whether I can bring him back with me or not so you must all be good and pray hard that you may meet him someday in heaven, where he will look as he did a year ago and more.
And now I must close and write to Grandma Chamberlain
With love and kisses to all,
Mamma
Note: Ada’s children: Vera (age nearly 13), Leonard (10), Zelda (8), Donald (6), Melvin (4), Thelma (2yr, 6 mo)
May 24, 1915: Goodby letter from Edward Whitaker (age 41) to his children:
To Vera, Len, Zelda, Donald, Melvin & Thelma,
Papa is going away dear little souls and before I am gone I must write a little note to you all. Be good to mama always. Papa loves you very dearly and wants you all to remember him. I hope we meet again in the after hours. Good-by to you one and all for ever.
From your passing heart-broken papa. Promise to always be true to your Christian duties.
Good-by.
Note: the six older Whitaker children were staying with their mother’s sister, Mamie, in Baker, Oregon
May 26, 1915: Death of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker (age 41), the father of Edward Joseph Whitaker, in Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington; of a cancerous mouth tumor from chewing tobacco. Ed is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon.
May 27, 1915: Letter to Mamie and Ada’s children from Ada Whitaker:
Spokane, Wash,
May 27th, 1915
My dear Sister & Children-
There is nothing to write only that Our Darling is gone, gone from us forever, oh it doesn’t seem that we will never have him with us any more.
I was sitting here alone with him last night and was writing a letter to Mr. Strayer, and every few minutes I would go to the bed and wet Ed’s lips, they were always so dry from the morphine, all at once I missed his regular breathing & went to the bed & moistened his lips again but he made no move. I felt his pulse & there was none, he was gone.
We will leave here Wed. evening at 8:45 that will put us in Baker on Thur at some time in the afternoon & I guess he will be buried Friday A.M.
Mr. Strayer told me he would make all the necessary arrangements. I hope Herb will get word so he can be there.
And now good-by. I’ll see you soon, just think this will be the first trip Ed & I ever took on the train together.
Aunt Olie will be with me, bless her.
Your loving & heartbroken
Sister & Mother
Note: Mr. Strayer sent a car from Baker to Paddy Creek to pick up Ed and Ada’s children to bring them to the funeral. It was the first time the children had ever seen a car. Aunt Olie was perhaps Ed Whitaker’s mother’s sister. Ed’s parents, Fred and Irene Whitaker did not attend their son’s funeral, nor did they have anything to do with his family after his death.
May 27, 1915: Morning Democrat, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
DEATH CLAIMS ED WHITAKER
Baker Man Passed Away In Spokane.
Ed Whittaker of this city, whose life hung in balance for several weeks at Spokane, where he went for treatment for cancer, passed away early yesterday morning, according to advices received by friends here yesterday. The body will be shipped here for burial and will arrive at 1:40 tomorrow afternoon. The funeral will be held Friday at the St. Francis Cathedral, but the exact hour has not been set. Mrs. Whitaker, summoned to Spokane about a week ago, was at his bedside when the end came.
The deceased was well known in mining circles, at one time being manager of the Paddy Creek properties and interested in others in this section for many years past. His wife and several children survive. Mr. Whittaker was about 45 years of age.
May 28, 1915: Burial of Edward Lawrence Whitaker in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Jan 9, 1920: Federal Census for Baker Precinct, Baker Co., Oregon:
Whitaker, Ada A: head, rents, widow, age 42, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, clerk in paper office
Vera: daughter, age 16, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Leonard: son, age 14, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Zelda: daughter age 12, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Donald: son, age 10, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Melvin: son, age 8, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Thelma: daughter, age 7, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Edward: son, age 5, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Circa 1924: Whitaker boys: Melvin, Edward, and Don:
Apr 9, 1930: Federal Census for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
Whittaker, A: head, age 52, widow, born Texas, father born United States, mother born England, circulation manager for newspaper
Zelda: daughter, age 22, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, bookkeeper for newspaper
Thelma: daughter, age 16, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, salesgirl in variety store
Edward: son, age 15, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, messenger boy for telegraph
Melvin: son, age 18, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, commercial salesman in hosery
Note: (Ada Agnes Whitaker, Vera’s mother) Ada’s father born in New York, mother born in Pennsylvania; children’s father born in Kansas
Apr 9, 1930: Federal Census for Owensboro, Daviess Co., Kentucky:
Name: Francis M Coffman (Frances Mae Coffman)
Birth Year: abt 1918
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age in 1930: 12
Birthplace: Indiana
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Niece
Home in 1930: Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, USA
Map of Home: Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky
Street Address: West Ninth Street
House Number: 1800
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: Indiana
Mother’s Birthplace: Indiana
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members: Age. Relationship
Ruby R Sands: age 37, Head
Viola Sands: age 32, Wife
Doran R Sands: age 13, Son
Ruth K Sands: age 11, Daughter
Pauline Sands: age 7, Daughter
William E Mcquins: age 11, Stepson
Agnes R Mcquins: age 10, Stepdaughter
Violet Coffman: age 32, Sister-In-Law
Francis M Coffman: age 12, Niece (Frances Mae Coffman)
Joseph S Coffman: age 9, Nephew
James W Coffman: age 7, Nephew
1932: City Directory for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon (pg 118):
Oct 8, 1932: Marriage of Frances Mae Coffman & Earl Marvin Dye (son of Louis Marvin Dye & Sarah Louise “Sadie” Service), in Santa Ana, Orange Co., California (her 1st marriage)
Oct 8, 1932: California Marriage Records:
Name: Frances Coffman
Gender: Female
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 8 Oct 1932
Marriage Place: Unknown, California, USA
Spouse: Earl Dye
abt 1933: Divorce of Frances Mae Coffman & Earl Marvin Dye, Los Angeles Co., California
May 3, 1934: Death of Earl Marvin Dye (age 22), 1st husband of Frances Mae Coffman, in Los Angeles Co., California; anemia, anal ulcers, myocardial failure. He is listed as divorced on his death certificate.
Jul 9, 1934: Marriage of Frances Mae (Coffman) Dye & Winfield Thayer Scarritt (son of Jesse Winfield Scarritt & Pearl J. Thayer), in Los Angeles Co. California (her 2nd marriage)
Jul 9, 1934: California Marriage Records:
Name: Frances M Dye
Gender: Female
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 9 Jul 1934
Marriage Place: Los Angeles, California, USA
Spouse: Winfield T Scarritt
1935: City Directory for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon (pg 118):
Name: Whitaker Edward J
Residence Year: 1935
Street Address: 1353 Washington av
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon, USA
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1935
Note: Edward and his sister Thelma are living with their mother, Ada
1937: City Directory for Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California (pg 689):
Whittaker, Ed J., r 169 S Mentor
1938: City Directory for Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California:
Whitaker, Edward J., bartender, r169 Mentor
1939: WWII Draft card for Edward Joseph Whitaker:
Note: This is the only record found that reflects Edward is married to a Toni Adelle
April 17, 1940: Federal Census for Montebello, Los Angeles, California:
Name: Frances Scarritt
Respondent: Yes
Age: 22
Estimated Birth Year: 1918
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Indiana
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1940: Montebello, Los Angeles, California
Street: Simmone Avenue
House Number: 1029
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 3rd year
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Household Members:
Winfield Scarritt: Age 32
Frances Scarritt: Age 22
Law Ann Scarritt: Age 4 (Louann Scarritt)
1940: California Voter Registrations, Los Angeles Co., California:
Name: Mrs Frances M Scarritt
Residence Date: 1940
Street Address 1029 S Simmons av
Residence Place: Los Angeles, California
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Housewife
Sep 30, 1944: WWII Navy Muster Rolls:
Name: Edward Joseph Whitaker
Ship, Station or Activity: Caelum
Ship Number or Designation: AK-106
Muster Date: 30 Sep 1944
1948: City Directory for Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California:
Whitaker, Edward J., 1845 N. Raymond
Feb 12, 1955: Wedding photo of Dexter Leonard Halldin & Lou Ann Scarritt, at the United Presbyterian Church, East Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California. Dexter’s parents, Dexter Guy Halldin & Etta Louise “Louise” (Ledger) Halldin, are at his left. At right are Lou Ann’s parents, Frances Mae (Coffman) & Winfield Thayer Scarritt:
bet 1955 and 1958: Marriage of Edward Joseph “Ed” Whitaker & Frances Mae (Coffman) Scarritt, his 2nd marriage, her third
1958: City Directory for Arcadia, Los Angeles Co., California (pg 820):
Name: Edward J Whitaker
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1958
Street Address: 610a W Lemon av A
Residence Place: Arcadia, California, USA
Occupation: Bartender
Spouse: Frances M Whitaker
Publication Title: Monrovia and Arcadia, California, City Directory, 1958
Nov 4, 1958: California Voter Registration, Los Angeles Co., California::
Name: Edward J Whitaker
Mrs. Frances M Whitaker
Residence Date: 1958
Street Address: 610 A W Lemon Ave
Residence Place: Los Angeles Co., California, USA
Party Affiliation: Democrat
1959: City Directory for Arcadia, Los Angeles Co., California
Name: Edward J Whitaker
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1958
Street Address: 610a W Lemon av A
Residence Place: Arcadia, California, USA
Occupation: Bartender
Spouse: Frances M Whitaker
Nov 8, 1960: California Voter Registration, Los Angeles Co., California::
Name: Edward J Whitaker
Mrs. Frances M Whitaker
Residence Date: 1960
Street Address: 610 A W Lemon Ave
Residence Place: Los Angeles Co., California, USA
Party Affiliation: Democrat
1960: Newspaper article regarding Winfield T. Scott:
Jul 15, 1960: Death of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 82), mother of Edward Joseph Whitaker, in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon; of pneumonia.
Jul 1960: Democrat Herald, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
— Obituaries —
ADA AGNES WHITAKER
Ada Agnes Whitaker, 82, 1710 Valley Ave., died Friday evening at St. Elizabeth Hospital.
The rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. today at West and Co. Chapel and mass will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at St. Francis Cathedral. Father Charles Young will officiate and burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Mrs. Whitaker, daughter of Lawrence (sic Frank) and Emily Chamberlain, was born in Ft. Worth, Tex., on Nov. 6, 1877. She married Edward L. Whitaker in Grand Junction, Colo., in 1902 and they moved to Baker County that same year. Mr. Whitaker died in 1915.
Mrs. Whitaker moved to Baker in 1917 and served as circulation manager for the Democrat Herald for 27 years. She was a member of the Catholic Church.
Survivors are three sons, Leonard of Roseburg, Ore.; Donald of Santa Paula, Calif.; and Edward of Arcadia, Calif.; three daughters, Vera Gillette of Seaside, Ore., Zelda Alfrey of Portland and Thelma Spencer of Baker; a brother Dr. W.J. Chamberlain of Corvallis; a sister, Mrs. T.H. Rosborough of Baker; 18 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Burial of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
Jul 1960: Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker’s children at her funeral: Vera, Edward, Donald, Len, Thelma, Zelda:
Note: Two of Ada’s sons, Howard Chambers and Melvin Whitaker are deceased
1960: City Directory for Arcadia, Los Angeles Co., California (pg 407):
Name: Edw J Whitaker
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1960
Street Address: 614 W Lemon Av
Residence Place: Arcadia, Los Angeles, California, USA
Occupation: bartender, Woody & Eddy’s
Spouse: Frances M Whitaker
Publication Title: Arcadia, California, City Directory, 1960
1962: California Voter Registration, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Whitaker, Ed: 300 E. Washington
Aug 12, 1968: Death of Frances Mae (Coffman) Whitaker (age 50), wife of Edward Joseph Whitaker, in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co., California; of cancer. Frances is buried in Rose Hils Memorial Park in Whittier, Los Angeles Co., California. Ed and Frances were separated or divorced at the time of her death, though he is listed as her husband in her obituary.
Aug 13, 1968: Pasadena Independent, Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California (pg 20):
Aug 12, 1968: California Death Index:
Name: Frances M Whitaker
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 6 Oct 1917
Birth Place: Indiana
Death Date: 12 Aug 1968
Death Place: Los Angeles
Mar 19, 1978: Death of Edward Joseph “Ed” Whitaker (age 63), 7th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin, in Temple City, Los Angeles Co., California; of phlebitis. Ed lived in an apartment near his stepdaughter LouAnn and family. He is buried in Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California.
California Death Index
Name: Edward Joseph Whitaker
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 20 Dec 1914
Birth Place: Oregon
Death Date: 19 Mar 1978
Death Place: Los Angeles
Mar 19, 1978: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Death File:
Name: Edward Whitaker
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 20 Dec 1914
Death Date: 19 Mar 1978
Branch 1: NAVY
Enlistment Date 1: 20 Aug 1942
Release Date 1: 9 Dec 1945
US Veterans’ Gravesites:
Name: Edward J Whitaker
Death Age: 63
Birth Date: 20 Dec 1914
Service Start Date: 20 Aug 1942
Service End Date: 9 Dec 1945
Death Date: 19 Mar 1978
Interment Date: 6 Apr 1978
Interment Place: California, USA
Cemetery Address: 950 South Sepulveda Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90049
Cemetery: Los Angeles National Cemetery
Plot: Section 319 Row H Site 20
Notes: Momm2c Us Navy World War II
Note: The cemetery and headstone pictures are from Find A Grave and are the property of those who photographed them.
2021. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.