BERT ROY WHISENANT SR.

Bert Roy Whisenant Sr., 82, passed away on June 22, 2004, in Brownsville at Rancho El Eden Assisted Living Facility where he had been lovingly cared for during the past year by Kathleen Frazier, Owner/RN and her entire staff.

He was born on September 19, 1921 in Attalla, Alabama to Grover and Dena Clara Whisenant. He was inducted into the Army Air Force on July 15, 1942. Bert served his country with great pride and received various medals. In 1946, he received an honorable discharge with the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Having been stationed in Brownsville for a period of time during WWII, he returned in 1946 and was immediately employed by Missouri Pacific Bus Lines. He was also a part-time salesman for Otto Manske?s Lincoln Mercury Dealership and lifetime friendship was begun between the two of them. Subsequently in 1984, Bert was the major financial backer for the acquisition of this same Lincoln Mercury franchise.

On May 15, 1954, he obtained his license to sell life insurance and Bert Whisenant Insurance Agency was established. In 1957, he obtained his property and casualty license. Bert was a personal producer of sales in life insurance, which earned him many prestigious awards and recognition on a national level.

During his career, he was president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Brownsville, of the Valley Life Underwriters Association, a member of the Board of Directors of the Brownsville United Fund, of the Rio Grande Council Executive Board for Scouting and he was presented the Boy Scout Silver Beaver award in 1969. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Rio Grande Lodge No. 81, the Brownsville Downtown Lions Club, the Toastmasters Club and the Al Amin Shrine. Bert was very supportive of the Camille Playhouse, Little League and the Gladys Porter Zoo, with a lifetime membership.

Bert is survived by his children, B.R. Whisenant Jr. (Margaret) of McAllen, Texas, Janice Jackson (Mike) of Apopka, Florida and James Whisenant (Susan Dow) of Pasadena, California. His surviving grandchildren are Bert R. Whisenant III; Michelle Whisenant, Bryan Whisenant, Monette Valdivia, Nicole Jackson, Katie Whisenant and Graeme Whisenant. Three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews also survive him, as well as his sister, Nettie Jones (Bill) of Gadsden, Alabama.

Bert is deeply missed by Suzanne Harden, as a loving bond becomes and everlasting memory. He will also be missed by her children, Will Santillana and Ceci Phillips, with whom he also shared his fatherly love.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, G.R. Whisenant and Alvin Whisenant and by his sister, Katherine Bowling, all of Alabama.

Visitation will be today, Thursday, June 24, 2004 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, June 25, 2004 in the Darling-Mouser Funeral Home chapel. Entombment will be at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito with the procession departing from the funeral home after the funeral service.

Military honors will be rendered by veterans of VFW Post 2035 Funeral Honor Guard of Brownsville under the direction of Chaplain Paul H. Spell.

Pallbearers will be Danny Alaniz, Skip Harden, Randy Randall, Billy Bradford, Mike Tidwell, and Richard Vaughn.

Honorary pallbearers will be the following, Bert Whisenant Insurance staff members, Rose Robinson, Isabelle Leal and Veronica Garcia, whose devotion never wavered. Other honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Oswald, Marshall Storey, Bill Bradford, William Faulk, Paul Cunningham Jr., Gayle D. Wilhite, Ray Hughston, Gary Meschi and Nick Serafy Jr.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home under the direction of Juan Jose Gallegos., Manager, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78520 (956) 546-7111.