Mary Katherine Whitis

Funeral services for Mary Katherine (Martens) Whitis, 97, of Belton, will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton with James Whitis and Harold Whitis officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Nolanville.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday evening 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the funeral home.

Mrs. Whitis gained her angel wings on December 23, 2025, in a Belton nursing home.

Mrs. Whitis was born September 22, 1928 in Youngstown, Ohio to Howard Christopher Martens and Ella Lee (Lawler) Martens. Her family moved to Texas when she was 2 years old. She graduated Salutatorian of her class at Salado High School. She married James Albert Whitis on January 24, 1947. They were married 50 years until his death on August 19, 1997. Together they had seven children including two sets of twins.

She retired from the Transportation Department at Fort Hood, Texas after more than 30 years. She was an active member of Miller Heights Baptist Church until her health began to fail.

She was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Ella Martens, her husband James Albert Whitis, her daughter Virginia Kay Whitis Obards Harris, son-in-law Buddy Ashley, her brother Paul Martens and sister-in-law Betty Martens.

She is survived by children Linda Ashley, Ronnie Whitis, Barbara Whitis, Larry Whitis and wife Cathy, Harold Whitis and wife Debbie, and James Lynn Whitis and wife Jessye; grandchildren Kathy Obards, Kristina Cehand, Michael Ashley and wife Kelly, Michelle Hernandez and husband Gizzy, Traci Huitt and wife Laura, Jason Adkins and wife Becky, Katrina Stockdale and husband Scott, Jeffeory Howard and wife Monica, Khara Whitis, Julie Lantiere and husband Louis, Matthew Whitis and wife Naomi, Zachary Dohmann and wife Brianna, Brooke Gaylor and husband Noah, Stuart Whitis and wife Alex and Jack Whitis and wife Jessica; 29 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life Bell County.