Lorana Randall Whiting passed away peacefully at her home in Phoenix, Arizona on November 25, 2017 just a few days shy of her 90th birthday. Lorana was born December 5, 1927 in Joseph City, Arizona to Alfred Harvey and Lena Stratton Randall. Lorana had a loving family of eleven siblings, five of whom preceded her in death: Raymond (Fay), Maurine Despain (Mitt), Norman (Verna), Tempy, and Ina MacDonald (Kyle). She is survived by six of her siblings: Nelda Brinkerhoff (Grant), Fern Whiting (Jay), Doyle Randall (Jackie), Ordene Guttery (Willard), Beth Gardner (Leo), and Evelyn Solomon (Delwin). Lorana loved growing up in Northern Arizona, and graduated from Holbrook High School, where she participated in the Drum and Bugle Corps and Girls Glee Club, played basketball and baseball, was the Rodeo Queen, and was known for wearing boots to school – even with a dress.
On Christmas Day in 1947, Lorana married her high school sweetheart, Arthur Milton “Mickey” Whiting. They had 69 wonderful years together before his passing in 2016. She had captured Mickey’s heart when she won a foot race at the county fair, bravely overcoming the effects of childhood polio. Lorana and Mickey attended Arizona State University and have been life-long Sun Devils fans, through and through, with football and basketball season tickets for many, many years. They also established an ASU scholarship program for deserving students. Mickey’s work with Kaibab Industries took them from Holbrook to Fredonia, then to Flagstaff, and finally brought them to Phoenix in 1967. Their family grew to five children during that time: R. Bruce Whiting (Gail), Gordon K. Whiting (Nannette), Janis Whiting Hall (Gordon), M. Barry Whiting (Robyn) and foster son Henry Redhouse (Lisa). By her loving example, she taught her children to work hard and to enjoy every hour of life.
Lorana delighted in every opportunity to serve in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She truly exemplified her favorite scripture “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.” (1 Nephi 3:7). She enjoyed working with all ages, but her heart was always with the youth. She initiated a girl’s the camp program for the LDS Young Women in Flagstaff in 1964, and spent many years teaching life and camping skills to countless young women. From 1981-1995 she was instrumental in establishing 16 chapters of the LDS Church sorority, Lambda Delta Sigma, on college campuses in eight states and Canada. The sorority chapters helped students learn how to balance their campus lives, while gaining a love for the Savior and giving service to others. In more recent years, she loved serving other women and their families, as the President of the Relief Society, both at the Ward and Stake level.
Lorana’s greatest happiness was found with her best friend and dear companion, Mickey, and their five children, 20 grandchildren, and soon to be 51 great-grandchildren. She loved and knew each family member well, and her legacy will live on in their lives.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, December 7th from 6-8 PM at the LDS Church, Arcadia Ward building, 4225 N. 56 St, Phoenix, AZ. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 8th at 10:30 AM, preceded by a visitation from 9-10:00 AM at the LDS Church, Arcadia Ward building, 4225 N. 56 St, Phoenix, AZ. Arrangements by Bunker Funeral Home, 33 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201.
Memorial contributions may be made in Lorana’s memory to any of the LDS Philanthropies at this address:
https://ldsp-pay.ldschurch.org/donations/lds-church/ldsp.html?cid=memoriam
Love this beautiful woman. So sorry will not be able to attend her funeral. We were all so fortunate to have her in your lives.
“May your family gain peace from God during your difficult hour, you have our sympathy as you mourn. I pray the hope found in God’s Word will touch your hearts and give you the strengthen to cope with this sad reality of the life we now live, and may these beautiful passages comfort you as they have me when I have suffered loss.” Hosea 13:14, Acts 24:15, Mark 10:27,
As a young man growing up in Flagstaff “back in the day” Lorana was one of the “rays of sunshine” that lit EVERYONE’s lives!! She was always so positive, happy, loving, and caring, for even us youngsters! My Mom worked for the Whitings for years in Flagstaff, and that made it possible to us kids to get to know, and love, the Whitings! They were sooo kind to us, but especially my Mom! We love their posterity, and wish we got to be around them more! If we can ever make it through those “pearly gates,” I know that we’ll find that amazing “ray of sunshine” there!
I just want to give my condolences to your whole family..what a beautiful tribute to her….and how you can see she inspired so many with her love….you can all keep and treasure that in your heart’s forever.
All my prayers,
Diane and Family