Carolyn and Bill Whitmire

CLAYTON, N.C. -- Carolyn Jean Whitmire passed away Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, at the age of 75.

William "Bill" Gordon Whitmire passed away a day after his wife on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, at the age of 77.

Carolyn was a native of Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 25, 1942, to the late Lawrence C. and Jewell A (Davis) Hager. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Dorothy A. Herbst of Farmington, Missouri.

Bill was a native of Brevard, North Carolina. He was born Nov. 11, 1940, to the late William Gordon Whitmire and Elizabeth Sitton. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Nancy Carolyn Whitmire Patterson.

They are survived by their sons, Jeffrey D. Whitmire of Raleigh, North Carolina, and David L. (Carol) Whitmire of Clayton, Missouri; three grandsons, Daniel, Samuel and Matthew Whitmire; and a niece, Londa (Bill) Bohl of Bryson City, North Carolina.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton. The family will receive friends following the service. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Donations in their honor may be made to The Alzheimer's Association or Cause for Paws.