Ora Louise Purinton Wheatly passed away Tuesday, February 20, at the age of 103.

Mrs. Wheatly was born in Spencer on August 31, 1903, to David and Anna (Fena) Purinton. Ora graduated from Spencer High School in 1922 and then entered the University of Iowa. She transferred to Drake University in the fall of 1923.

Ora married Thomas Elias Wheatly on June 13, 1925. They were blessed with six children. Ora began working at the Hotel Savery in 1949. After 25 years of service, she retired in 1974. She called Des Moines home for 83 years.

She was a member of First Federated church and the Helping Hand Club.

In recent years, she lived independently with her daughters before time at the Taylor House.

Ora is survived by her daughter Madeline and her husband Don Morey of

Des Moines, her son Jack and his wife Ruby of Ankeny, her daughter

Charlotte and her husband Don Cox of Des Moines, her daughter Deanna

Peterson of Tulsa, Okla., her daughter Kathleen and her husband Tom Lutz

of Sarasota, Fla.; 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 10

great-great-grandchildren.

Ora was proceeded in death by her husband in August 1953; her son Thomas in October 2006 and two grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens., 121 N.W. 60th Ave. in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at the same location at 10 a.m. Friday, February 23.

Memorial contributions may be made to Taylor House Hospice and First

Federated Church.