Julia M Whitesides *
Julia May Davis Whitesides, resident of Westminster, CO, age 93 years 5 months 31 days, passed away at Clear Lake Care Home in Westminster, CO after a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease, on Saturday Mar 8, 2025.
She was born on September 5, 1931 to the late Pete Weddock Davis and Thelma May Shockey in Plattsmouth, NE. She was the eldest of six children. Sometime in 1947, she and her siblings were removed from their parents home; the elder two girls were placed in the Good Shepherd Home and the two boys were placed in Boy’s Town. It is unknown where the two younger girls were placed. Julia graduated from Good Shepherd in 1949. Following her graduation, Julia traveled to Minnesota in order to join a convert (location unknown). sometime between 1949-1952, her mother and stepfather, who had moved to Iowa, informed her and the convent sisters that she would have to return to Iowa with them since she was not of legal age (Iowa’s legal age at that time was 21). The nuns told her she could return once she turned 21.
However, in the meantime, she met Harry F. Whitesides at a roller-skating rink in Omaha, NE. at St Stanislaus Church. They had two daughters, Jean, born in 1954 and Cecilia, born in 1957. They lived in several different homes: Hastings, IA, Hastings, NE, Bluff Street in Council Bluffs, IA before moving to a home on North 19th Street (also in council Bluffs). Julia worked at Pendelton Woolen Mills for many years before retiring. They attended Holy Family Church for many years.
In 1975, Julia joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints.
Upon Harry’s death in May 2010, Julia moved to Lakewood, CO to be closer to her grandfather’s Shockey family.
Julia loved genealogy and worked in the church’s name extraction program for a number of years. She also attended the temple every Friday. She enjoyed sewing and quilting and made a number of lovely quilts. She believed in always being well- dressed, she loved wearing jewelry and having her hair done on a weekly basis. After moving to Colorado, she would also have her nails done frequently. Julia loved flowers (iris was one of her favorites) and gardening and was very proud of her ” green thumb” Her favorite color was green.
She was preceded in death by her spouse and four of her siblings: Neda I., Donald E., Michael S., Shirley A., She is survived by her youngest sister, Ellen L. Andrae, her daughters, Jean (Robert) Scott of Council Bluffs, IA, Cecilia Parrish of West Valley City, UT, six grandchildren: Steven D. Jr, Shawn P., Robert F., E., Allison D/E Howard, Justin A. Coddington, Savanna N. Scott.; 5 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
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