Marie A. Whaley of Laurel passed away on Feb. 16 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Marie was born on Oct. 7, 1938, in Laurel to the late Daniel J. Boyce and Dora Ruth Betts Boyce. She was a graduate of Laurel High School and was a previous member of Trinity United Methodist Church, which later became unaffiliated and is now known as the Elliott Worship Center.
Through her years, she worked with Arrow Safety, owned Whaley’s Crossroad’s General Store & Automotive, Donovan Salvage, Ruth Rogers Store at Sandy Fork, Laurel Deli, and worked with the Sussex County Court of Chancery, and was currently a Clerk in the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas, with over 35 years of service.
Marie enjoyed volunteering at the Good Samaritan Shop in Laurel, listening to Bluegrass music, and was a founder of Peninsula Bluegrass Inc. She held many pick-in’s on the third Saturday of each month for whoever wanted to “Jam”.
Marie loved to cook and was known to cook the “good ole Sussex County food”; she also enjoyed traveling as long as you could drive to the destination, decorating her home inside and out for every holiday and working in her yard was another favorite pastime.
Marie truly loved her family dearly and was very blessed and proud to be a cancer survivor, so much that she faithfully participated in supporting the “Relay for Life” events for over 25 years.
Marie is survived by her daughter, Brenda R. Whaley Conaway; grandson, Jeremiah A. Conaway and his fiancée, Amanda Decker; brother, Joseph D. Boyce; brother-in-law, Donald Hickman; and sisters-in-law, Carol Johnson and Thelma Whaley. Many nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law also survive her.
The family would like to extend a very special thanks to Monte and Debbie Whaley, Thelma Whaley, Dora Adams, and Alan Adams for helping to make her final weeks more comfortable. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Roy A. Whaley; sisters, Darleen Boyce Hickman and Barbara E. Boyce Adams; and her brother-in-law, Ira Nelson Adams.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In honor of Mrs. Whaley, the family suggests that contributions be made in her honor to the Elliott’s Worship Center, 17237 Phillips Hill Road, Laurel, Delaware 19956. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hsdfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home in Laurel.