Teacher, coach, co-worker, driving instructor, Mama. These are the names Marie Whitten was known by, but the things she will be most remembered for are her ability to see the positive in everyone, her role model as a coach and mentor, and her sense of humor. Whitten died July 28.
Best known as the coach for the girls indoor and outdoor track teams at Western, a role she carried for over 40 years, she had a clear positive impact on every student, teacher, coach and parent she touched. Many of these people came together at the school August 16 at the first reunion of girls track and field, an event long planned and now held in her honor, to celebrate her life and swap stories about how she had an impact on their lives.
“I will remember her for her sense of humor,” Coach Lindy Bain said. “She was adept at using it when I was wound up about something. She would have me laughing in no time, I will miss that. I have so many fond memories of riding on the bus with her to a track meet while talking about growing up in the area.”
Coach Will “Till” Tillery added, “I sat next to her for 25 years, she never tried to change me, she always lifted me up, she wanted me to be the best version of me. I never saw her yell or give up on a kid, she loved everyone. She was much bigger than track and field, she was about relationships.”…