Elizabeth Anne Whitaker went home to be with her Lord on February 17, 2026, aged 92. She was born to James B. and Mildred Scott in Terrell, Texas, on October 31, 1933. The daughter of a gospel preacher, she grew up in a number of different locations before graduating from Houston’s Milby High School and later Abilene Christian College. Shortly after graduation, she began her career as an educator, with a passionate focus on elementary grades, especially in teaching reading.
She took a break from teaching professionally long enough to raise four children, and again her love for reading showed through. She would take her children to the library every week, each of them coming home with a stack of books to pore over during the coming week. Once she noticed that they were beginning to check out the same books over and over, she pivoted from the Lake Jackson library to the Clute library so they would have a different variety of books to choose from. She held a deep-seated belief that reading was fundamental to success, not only in school, but also in life. Her belief held true as each of her children was recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program in high school.
Once her children were all in school, she went back to the classroom, working her way back into a first grade classroom, where, as she put it, “I want the chance to teach them before anyone else does.” She continued in the classroom until retirement, after which time, not surprisingly, she spent so much of her time with a book in her hands.
Those who knew her well were often heard to say, “She is one of the kindest, sweetest, gentlest people I’ve ever known.” Never one to draw attention to herself, her entire focus was on others. She was a thoughtful gift-giver, always paying attention to the things her family loved, and finding that one perfect gift that fit the recipient so well. At every moment, her primary thoughts were about the well-being of others, of their comfort, of their success, and of their happiness. Each of her children learned from her example and from her words to always be cognizant of their impact on others; never to seek the spotlight, never to be the first in line, never to make others uncomfortable, but instead always to be putting others first. Sweetness, kindness, gentleness, and selflessness described her every action and every word. No better description of Anne could be expressed than those found in 1 Peter, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Anne is survived by her husband of 70 years, Mike Whitaker of Lake Jackson, Keith and Laura Tilley of Austin, Texas, Roger and Torri Whitaker of Iola, Texas, Kevin and Tammy Whitaker of Poetry, Texas, and Ginger Whitaker of Cedar Park, Texas. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mildred Scott, her sister Mildred Hall, and her son, Jeff Whitaker.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Stroud Funeral Home in Clute, Texas, followed a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. A family graveside service and burial will follow at Restwood Cemetery in Clute, Texas.
As she beat cancer twice in her lifetime, the family would prefer that, In lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).