Mrs. Mary McNeely Whisnant, 94, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday February 28, 2024, at Amorem Burke Hospice, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Whisnant was born December 25. 1929 in McDowell County, a daughter of the late Joseph Cephus and Sue Emma Hawkins McNeely.  Mary was a member of Cross Memorial Baptist Church and worked as a CNA.  She retired from the Burke County School System and Mull Elementary School cafeteria.  She loved spending time with her family at Myrtle Beach, S.C. and a good cup of coffee, her greatest love though was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Owen Whisnant, sons, Donald Whisnant, Mark Whisnant, daughter, Linda  Marie Whisnant, son-in-law, Wayne Wheeling, brothers, Tom, Junior, Paul, Joe, James and Clyde McNeely, sisters, Ada Norman and Ruby Chapman.

Surviving are her daughters, Gail Whisnant (Rick), of Morganton, Pattie Wheeling, of Valdese and daughters-in-law, Connie Whisnant of Hickory and Kim Cline of Morganton.  Also surviving are the apples of her eye, her grandchildren, Melissa Wyrick (Pat), Daniel Whisnant (Heidi), Jason Whisnant, Jennifer Wheeling, Kayla Whisnant and her great-grandchildren, Jalen, Porter, Ashlyn, Gavin, Palmer, Olivia and Madelyn and step-grandchildren, Chelsea Lambert and Casie Lambert and step-great-grandchild, Maverick Lambert.

A Graveside Service for Mary McNeely Whisnant will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday March 3, 2024, in the Burke Memorial Park, with Rev. Jeffrey Beach officiating.

Mrs. Whisnant will lie in state Sunday until 1:30 PM at Heritage Funeral Service, Valdese.

Memorials may be made to Amorem Burke Hospice, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690 or to the place she loved, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157.

The family would like to thank the staff of Amorem for the excellent care given Mrs. Whisnant during her peaceful transition from this life.