View Funeral Webcast

Funeral service for Jaunell "Mema" Walker, age 94, of Frederick, Oklahoma, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the First Baptist Church of Tipton, 300 E. Davis Avenue, with Rev. Ronnie Morgan and Rev. Les Banks officiating.

Graveside service will be held 3:00 p.m. Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Cumby Cemetery in Chico, Texas. Burial is under the direction of Orr Gray Gish & Tipton Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the funeral home.

Mema passed away Sunday, May 31, 2026, at her home in Frederick with her loving family by her side.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Junior Lee Walker; two sons, one daughter, four brothers, two sisters, and one granddaughter.

She is survived by a daughter: Lou Tyler and husband Mike of Frederick; a brother: Leland Whatley and wife Mary of Wichita Falls, Texas; two sisters: Shirley Cary and husband Danny of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Margaret (Dot) Whatley of Gainesville, Texas; 16 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, and 48 great great grandchildren.

"Her story... in her words"

Written by Jaunell "Memaw" and re-written by Talan Tyler (Grandson):

Born August 19, 1931 to Walker Lee Whatley and Gertrude Melvina (Roach). Was second to oldest of 10 children. I grew up on a farm in Chico (Wise County), Texas. My dad was a farmer. We hoed cotton (not chopped cotton). If they had told me to go chop cotton, that's what I would have done. Chopped the cotton, not the weeds. We shook peanuts, put them in piles and go back one to three days later and turn them. Trashing time we held the toe sack (burlap to y'all) to catch the peanuts. 100 lbs each. We hoed the corn, milked the cows, fed the hogs, took care of the chickens. (Just so you know I don't do chickens unless they are dead.)
But don't forget my dad was always there with us. My mom was a housewife. She kept the house, did the laundry by boiling them in a wash pot outside, using a scrub board and pumping her own water. When chores were done, dishes were done, lessons were done, Mom went outside with us and played whatever game we wanted to play. This was the first five children. The second five will have to tell their own story. (LOL). Just before bedtime Dad would read the Bible. Then Dad would play the fiddle and Mom would play the guitar and my older sister and I would dance (or thought we were) around the living room. We had a tank (pond to y'all) just down from our house. It would freeze over solid in winter time so we had our own ice skating rink. I went to school at Chico, Texas until the 9th grade first semester, then we moved to Park Springs, Texas. There I graduated May 14, 1948. I turned 17 August 19, 1948 and married September 30, 1948. We raised 4 children. My husband passed away January 7, 1985 after 37 years and 8 months. While raising my kids we attended First Baptist Church of Alvord. I taught Sunbeams and GAs (which they don't have anymore). I was a Cub Scout leader for my boys' group. I attended all my kids' sports: girls' basketball (all they had at that time), boys' football, basketball, baseball and track. Sports started with brothers, then sons, grandsons, great-grandsons and great-granddaughters. Now great-greats. Moving to Oklahoma in 2006 to take care of a great-grandson while his parents worked, I attended Tesca Baptist Church. I kept the nursery, taught the juniors class and worked in the kitchen. As of now, I am a member of First Baptist Church of Tipton. Of course, now I live in Frederick so haven't been able to go. I have been a member of VFW Post 8708 Auxiliary since 1976. I am a lifetime member of American Legion Speake Meyer Post 251, Bowie, Texas Ladies Auxiliary. Footnote: When I went to school, we didn't have spring break or fall break. We had Thanksgiving through Sunday, I think, one week for Christmas, no Labor Day, and all these others they have now. We didn't have snow days. We went to school in rain, sleet, or snow and I walked close to 3 miles.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Junior Lee Walker; two sons, one daughter, four brothers, two sisters, and one granddaughter.

She is survived by a daughter: Lou Tyler and husband Mike of Frederick; a brother: Leland Whatley and wife Mary of Wichita Falls, Texas; two sisters: Shirley Cary and husband Danny of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Margaret (Dot) Whatley of Gainesville, Texas; 16 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, and 48 great great grandchildren.