Joe Layne Whitley left his earthly home on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, to be reunited with Patricia, the love of his life in their eternal home.  Joe's 90 years were filled with love and happiness with his family and friends (too many to mention here).

Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan. In accordance with public gathering guidelines, capacity limitations of up to twenty five persons at any one time during visitation will be observed along with face masks and social distancing requirements   A private funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 27, at the funeral home, and a recording of the service will be available to view at wheelanpressly.com shortly after services. Private burial, with military honors presented by the Reynolds American Legion Post 1166, will be at National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association or to the Quad City Animal Welfare Center, Milan.

Born November 23, 1930 in Red Boiling Springs TN to his parents Orel and Bessie (Compton) Whitley, Joe spent his youth with his brothers Billy and Darrell, graduating from Red Boiling Springs High School in 1947.  Joe enlisted in the Army during the Korean War where he was the youngest Master Sergeant in the Far East and participated in three major operations.  Joe was wounded and received the Purple Heart.  After leaving the Army, Joe made his way to the Quad Cities to find employment with his brother Bill.

Here he met his wife Patricia and they were married on Feb. 23, 1953.  Being an overachiever, Joe not only gained a wife, but a family as well as he welcomed Pat's three children, Kathy, Danny, and Carla into his heart and home as if they were his own.  Raising these three became a labor of love and the family grew with a son Terry.  Joe worked two jobs for a time, IH Farmall in Rock Island in the evening and as a rural Postal Carrier in the daytime.  In 1964, the family moved to 54 acre horse ranch east of Andalusia, the Flying W, where Joe spent the rest of his life sharing a love of life, horses, and dogs, with his wife.

Never meeting a stranger, Joe was outgoing and gregarious and could strike up a conversation wherever he went.  His life was full of adventures including flat track motorcycle racing where he achieved national ranking as an amateur; being an officer and founding member of the Blackhawk Rodeo Association (serving as a barrel clown during the bull riding competition); raising German Shepherds as a member of the German Shepherd Dog Club of the Quad Cities; selling real estate, and an active member of the National Letter Carriers serving as a board member.

After retiring from the Postal Service, Joe spent his retirement staying active playing golf, riding his motorcycle, spending time at Jumer's Casino and traveling with Pat and their friends.  Joe kept a large garden, supplying neighbors and relatives with sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers and other goodies.  He kept active at home, mowing several acres every week.  He was a member of the Purple Heart Club, Rock Island V.F.W., Post 1303, Reynolds American Legion, Post 1166, the Andalusia Township Board of Trustees and the Rural Letter Carriers.  He participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, DC.

Preceding Joe in death were his parents Orel and Bessie, his brother Darrell, and his bride Patricia.

Joe will always be remembered with love by those surviving him; Kathy (John) Cervantes, Milan, Daniel (JoAnne) Whitley, Taylor Ridge, Carla (Jack) Martens, Rock Island, and Terry Whitley, Milan, his brother, Billy (Carolyn) Whitley, Gallatin, TN, twelve grandchildren and many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.