Jack Darrell Whaley

Jack Darrell Whaley

Jack Darrell Whaley joined our Lord, peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 20, 2016 after a harrowing battle with Parkinson’s disease and other related diseases caused by Agent Orange. Jack was born Sept. 21, 1946 to Dorothy (Walker) and Sterling Leo Whaley in Modesto, Calif., he was the second of three boys.

He grew up in Moorpark, Calif. and his family moved to Hawthorne in 1963. Jack joined the Navy in 1964, served for three years, and then was honorably discharged in 1967. While enlisted he served in Vietnam from 1964-1967 participating in three tours aboard DER 386 USS Savage. He was a radar man 3rd class, he was also responsible for servicing the riverboats with fuel, food and water so they could return up the river in Vietnam. He would continue up river on patrol and search for Viet Cong. His ship captured 16 Viet Cong members.

In 1968 Jack returned to Hawthorne and married his high school sweetheart Susan Hoferer. Their first child Jack, Jr. was born in 1969 and in 1971 their daughter Kimberly. Jack worked as a heavy equipment operator for nine years at NAD Hawthorne. He continued working for Civil Service as a driver operator fireman at NAS Fallon, retiring in 2002 with 38 years of service.

Jack loved hunting and fishing all over Nevada. Every person he met he called a friend. He enjoyed construction, building his own home in the early 80’s with his father-in-law Richard Hoferer, Sr.

Jack is survived by his wife of forty-nine years Susan (Hoferer) Whaley. His children: Jack and wife Connie of Newport, Ore.and daughter Kimberly and husband Robert Richmond of Walker Lake, Nev.; grandchildren: Avery (Ashley) Whaley, Jessica (Ben) Cloud, Devin Whaley and Alyssa Richmond; brothers: Jerry Whaley, Reno, Nev. and John (Margaret) Whaley, Surprise, Ariz.; nieces: Tina (Randy) Canady of Hawthorne, Nev. and Melinda (Aaron) Wagner of Seattle, Wash. and nephew Chris (Diane) Whaley of Seattle, Wash.

Private immediate family service will be held. In lieu of flowers please donate to The Michael J. Fox Foundation.