Gearl “Gerri” Dene Whiteaker
1930 - 2017
Gearl “Gerri” Dene Whiteaker was born October 27, 1930, in Ozark County, AR, to Ernest and Agnes (Sherrill) Smart. Her family traveled to the Wenatchee Valley during her early years for seasonal employment in the agricultural industry.
Few can say they began their careers at age 11, but Gerri could. At the age of 11, she began working with her family for Leo Antles, who owned Antles Pollen Supplies. She worked each spring picking fruit blossoms to be processed for pollenating orchards. In the late 1960’s, the company sold to four employees; at which time she became a co-owner of Antles.
Though she sold her portion of the business in 2009, she continued to work with the Antles customers and field crews through the spring of 2016, 75 years after her employment began. Through all those years, and by many that knew her, she became known as the “Bee Lady”. She loved doing her job. She was featured in the Good Fruit Grower magazine many years ago explaining the process of blossom thinning/picking.
Her contributions to Antles Pollen and its customers were vast. In addition to hiring and supervising field crews, she procured pollen sources, served front line in customer relations, supervised product processing and was involved in product sales. She was highly respected for her comprehensive knowledge of the pollen industry.
Gerri’s tree fruit industry involvement extended to packing and sorting various types of fruits in numerous fruit packing sheds in the Wenatchee valley. Most of her years were at Washington Fruit Growers and Blue Bird. She made many life-long friends in the packing sheds and in the agricultural industry.
Gerri met her husband Dale Howard Whiteaker in Arkansas and they were married on November 27, 1948. Gerri and Dale had four children. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed family gatherings, barbeques, shopping trips and vacations.
Gerri had a heart so big she would do anything for anyone. She had a wonderful spirit and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew or met her.
Gerri was survived by her husband of 68 years, Dale Whiteaker, her four children: Kathy (Scott) Henry and Greg Whiteaker, Nancy (Dan) Baker and Bruce Whiteaker and three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
About this scholarship
Antles Pollen Supply Inc. created this scholarship to honor Gerri’s memory. The scholarship awards college bound students annually with a work ethic and passion that reflects that of the woman this scholarship honors.