08/05/2026
Please keep some of the SAH family -Connie Wilson & Alyssa Wilson in your thoughts and prayers as they lay their sweet mother/grandmother to rest today!
Our office will be closed from 11:30a-1p today as we pay our respects to the family 💖
Laverne "Tootsie" Calder-Whiles, age 90, of Science Hill, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Hospice of Lake Cumberland.
Born April 6, 1936, in Pulaski County, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Marvin and Tess Calder. Tootsie was a faithful member of Science Hill United Methodist Church and the Science Hill Garden Club. She enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, quilting, and found great joy in caring for her family and serving others. Her warm smile, generous heart, and unwavering faith touched everyone who knew her.
Tootsie was devoted to her family and cherished every moment spent with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She was the loving wife of the late Harold "Turk" Whiles, with whom she shared 56 years of marriage. Together they built a home filled with love, laughter, and lasting memories.
She is survived by her children, Francis Spillman of Somerset, Dallas (Angie) Whiles of Franklin, Kentucky, Connie Wilson of Science Hill, and Tim (Oreida) Whiles of Ferguson; her grandchildren, Stuart "Stewk" (Gina) Spillman of Somerset, Shane (Jill) Spillman of Somerset, Amber (Jason) Lanham of Franklin, Kentucky, Adam (Anna) Whiles of Franklin, Kentucky, Courtney (James) Key of Franklin, Kentucky, Wil Pedigo of Columbus, Ohio, Nathan (Alyssa) Wilson of Science Hill, Zoey Wilson, Makayla Wilson, Moe Wilson, and Rosie Wilson, all of Science Hill, Alisha Whiles-Vaugh of Burnside, Toby Whiles of Pikeville, Austin (Gemma) Whiles of Eubank, Brenden Whiles of Eubank, Seath (Mandi) Whiles of Science Hill, and Zach (Lauren) Whiles of Waynesburg and her sister, Ann Mullins of Eubank, Ky. She is also survived by 29 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many dear friends, including her best friend, Alice Roberts.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold "Turk" Whiles; her son, Eddie "Tub" Whiles; her daughter-in-law, Vickie Whiles; her sons-in-law, Mike Spillman and Rick Wilson; her sisters, Rojean Cromer and Edith Hall; and her brother, Clifford Calder.
Visitation will be held at Southern Oaks Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 12:00 until the funeral hour.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Southern Oaks Funeral Home with Rev. Norman Harper and Stuart "Stewk" Spillman officiating.
Burial will follow in Science Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Stuart "Stewk" Spillman, Shane Spillman, Adam Whiles, Nathan Wilson,
Moe Wilson, Seath Whiles, and Zach Whiles
Honorary Pallbearers: Zoey, Makayla and Rosie Wilson, Katieann Ford, Lyndsey and Simon Spillman, Amanda Holder, Elijah and Ben Spillman, Addyson and Kennedy Lanham, Autumn Groves, Payton Whiles, Eli Hodges, Matthew Hendricks, Brayden Whiles, Dagan Whiles, Scarlett and Willow Whiles, Gunnar, Maddox, Jagger and Neeley Key, Addyson, Anslee and Ashlynn Wilson, Jaxon, Raegan, Colton Whiles, Liam Davis, Layton and Addi-Faye Whiles.
Abbi Holder and Charlie Ford.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Hospice of Lake Cumberland for the compassionate care and kindness shown to Tootsie during her final days.
Expressions of
sympathy may be sent to the Science Hill Garden Club at: SHCA P.O. Box 186 Science Hill, KY 42553
Tootsie's legacy of love, faith, kindness, and devotion to her family will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
