Ronda Diane Whatley

June 8, 1959 – November 15, 2017

Ronda Whatley was born on June 8, 1959, in Buffalo, Wyoming. She has passed to her rest in her home on Nov. 15, 2017, in Palmer, Alaska. She fought a short, but valiant battle with cancer. Ronda was raised in Alaska from the age of 1, after her parents, Lyle and Doris Straight had made the move to Alaska in 1960. First living in the Chugach area and then home steading on the Knik River; before gravel roads or paved highways existed, swamp buggies and logging trails were their life line to the outside.

Growing up around Palmer and living here her entire adult life, she had many friends and family to share her amazing life with. Everyone knew that her love for people, animals, growing flowers, trees and vegetables formed great passion and zest that added the extra beauty and love to her life. In her life’s work, she enjoyed working in the fields being employed by Palmer Produce, where the owners were and always will be a second family to her. Working alongside many friends and family in the fields made the digging dirt, bringing up plants, enjoyable to her, no matter how hard the work. Additionally, she owned Ronda’s Café on the straight stretch of the Old Glenn Highway in Butte Alaska. Cooking for as she would say, “the old timers” was one of the greatest joys of her life. They were all perfect in their own way and knew the love that she had for each and every one of them.

Ronda is survived by her husband Kenneth B. Whatley; her children, son Donnie Farwell and daughter in law Kelly, son Carl Farwell and daughter in law Chanelle, daughter Jill Kokotovich and son in law Scott Schaefer. Her grandchildren, (Stan and Cassidy), Cody, Kayley, Chandler. Isabel, Gage, Lexi, Zach and Brayden. Her great grandchildren, Gracelynn and Cohen. She is survived by her Uncle Loren, Gladius Sacket and numerous other relatives in Wyoming, her brothers Lyle Jr, Donald, John, Gary and sister in law Toni. Brother and Sister in laws; Danny and Deanie Whatley and Rod and Janette Corbin. She was proceeded in death by her Father and Mother; Lyle Sr. and Doris Straight. Father in law, Kenneth W. Whatley.

She loved nothing in this world more than family and all her beautiful grandchildren. She had a unique and perfect way to bond with them. Honesty, Love, Laughter, Orneriness and teaching the necessity of kindness to people and animals was her way of life. Ronda will be truly missed.