Lela Kathleen Gregory-Wilhite

February 3, 1918 - January 27, 2017

Lela Kathleen Gregory-Wilhite February 3, 1918 – January 27, 2017 Lela Kathleen Shrauner was born to Samuel and Susie Allen Shrauner in Stafford County, Kansas on February 3, 1918. Kathleen was the second child of four in the Shrauner family. She had an older sister Pauline, and two younger brothers, David and Richard. At the time of her birth, Kathleen’s mother was a recorded Friends minister and the pastor of Antioch Friends Meeting in Stafford County. Her father was a wheat farmer who supported the family financially. Kathleen attended the one room school house on farm property donated by her father. She later attended Haviland Friends Academy and Friends Bible College. While at FBC she met Dean Gregory, himself the son of a Friends pastor. They graduated from the two year Bible College and enrolled in Marion College (Indian Wesleyan University), in Marion, Indiana. After graduation, Dean and Kathleen married in Stafford, KS on September 3, 1940. They returned to Indiana where Dean pastored rural Friends Churches, and where their two sons, Ronald Dean and Fredric Sheldon were born. It was during this period that Kathleen found her calling to have a ministry with her husband and to raise their two sons. In 1947 the family moved to Portland, Oregon where Dean pastored Lents Friends Church. In 1951 Dean became the General Superintendent of Oregon Yearly Meeting. Kathleen continued her ministry with her husband and enjoyed her sons as they were developing into young men. In 1962 they moved to Newberg, a new home for Oregon Yearly Meeting offices, to continue serving the Church. Kathleen continued to enjoy her ministry with Dean as they moved to Star, Idaho in 1966 where Dean was called to pastor the Friends Church. She found special fulfillment in helping to plan and build the new church building while there. From there they moved to Wichita, Kansas, in 1968 where Dean was interim Superintendent of Kansas Yearly Meeting, where he died in May of 1969. Kathleen moved back to Newberg, Oregon and worked at George Fox College. In 1976 Kathleen married Walter Wilhite. She and Walt enjoyed ministry and life together until his death in 1987. She was a woman of great strength and faith and remained a Newberg resident, actively volunteering at GFC, Barclay Press and Newberg Friends Church and enjoyed traveling with her friends. Being the oldest living family member, she shared her wisdom, sense of humor and grace with everyone. She embodied a special, tender relationship with her immediate family until her passing on January 27, 2017, at Friendsview Retirement Community, seven days before her 99th birthday. She was preceded in death by husbands Dean Gregory and Walter Wilhite and son Ronald Dean Gregory. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Fred& Viola, daughter-in-law Kitsy Gregory, eight grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Donations to Friendsview Resident Assistance Fund, or George Fox University Student Fund, in lieu of flowers will be appreciated.