Obituaries

Donald Lee Whitis, 82, of Covington suffered a devastating stroke on June 6, 2026 and passed away peacefully a couple days later on June 8—expertly and compassionately cared for by the Surgical ICU team at St. Elizabeth Edgewood. With Don’s final earthly gift of tissue donation, facilitated by Network for Hope, the lives of up to 75 people may be saved or improved!

Don was born on August 21, 1943 in South Fulton, Tennessee, but he was a proud Kentuckian, through and through. He grew up in Mayfield and attended Murray State, eventually meeting and falling in love with Beverly Sisk. (They met when they were each visiting the people they were dating at the time. It’s a pretty good story.) Don and Bev married on August 27, 1966 and apart from brief stints elsewhere, spent their life together and raised their girls in Northern Kentucky. Bev, Missy, and Bethany will all be eternally grateful to have been together and by his side when Don took his last breath.

Family and music were the two interconnected threads woven through Don’s life. He founded the Florence Community Chorus forty years ago. In addition to the impact the Chorus has made on the region, it was always a family affair, with Bev singing tenor and Missy stepping in to direct on occasion. In the early days, Bethany just got a lot of homework and reading done during Thursday evening rehearsals.

Don’s true passion was music as a form of praise. He was called to music ministry at the age of sixteen and was determined to carry out that calling until God decided he was done. He remained faithful to the end, leading the congregation of Oak Ridge Baptist Church as they sang hymns on the night he went into the hospital for the final time. And still, we know he hasn’t truly reached the end of the calling he loved so much.

The memorial service for Don will be Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 10:30am at Oak Ridge Baptist Church (6056 Taylor Mill Road, Covington, KY). Don had two primary requests for his memorial service: that it point first and foremost to Jesus, and that anyone who has ever sung in a choir or chorus he participated in or led be invited to join a celebration choir. This celebration choir will sing two of Don’s favorite choral pieces during the memorial service. If you can participate, please email WhitisChoir@gmail.com as soon as possible so we know to expect you—and we’ll send you all the details. Everyone, whether you sing or not, is invited to stay after the service for a meal and an ice cream social.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Worden Whitis and Louise Mueller, his brother Gary Whitis, stepfather Russell Mueller, and stepbrother Don Mueller.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years and 10 months, Beverly, their daughters Melissa Whitis and Bethany Turner, son-in-law Kelly Turner, and grandsons Ethan and Noah.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Don’s name to Network for Hope’s Wieland Heartbeat Bears Fund. Heartbeat Bears provide donor families with the sound of a loved one’s heartbeat after their body has been put into action saving lives. Visit networkforhope.org/contribute and help other families receive the comfort we have found in the sound of Don’s loud, strong heartbeat.