Maria Whitis

Maria Elaine (George) Whitis, 83, of Byesville, passed away Saturday (December 20, 2025) at her home.

She was born March 25, 1942 in Cambridge, daughter of the late Elias J. George and Ann C. (Koval) George.

Maria was a 1959 graduate of Guernsey Central Catholic/St. Benedict Catholic School. She worked at Seneca Distributors, a family-owned business, for over thirty years.

She loved baking, shopping, cleaning, crocheting, and laying out in the sun around the pool.

Maria was a member of the Christ Our Light Parish – St. Benedict Catholic Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Jim George; a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and James “Bud” Calvert; an infant brother, Robert.

Maria is survived by her husband, Gary Ross Whitis, whom she married September 26, 1959; two sons, Gary (& Linda) Whitis of Dublin and Jon Whitis of Columbus; a daughter, Nicole (& Darnell) Parrish of Columbus; three brothers, Michael (& Patti) George of Louisville KY, William (& Linda) George of Cambridge, and Richard (& Kelly) George of Westerville; two sisters, Ann (& Donald) Moore of New Concord and Janice Kafury of Belle Valley; a sister-in-law, Betty George of Cambridge; nine grandchildren, Brooke (& Brian) Wiitanen, Corbin Whitis, Aubrielle Whitis, Brenna (& Erin) Whitis, Blake Whitis, Brett (& Torrey) Whitis, Nikolas Parrish, Alexandria Parrish, and Connor Parrish; and two great-grandchildren, Gianna and Lily.

Visitation will be held Saturday (December 27, 2025) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Christ Our Light Parish (St. Benedict Catholic Church), Cambridge, where a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 p.m. Black-Epperson Funeral Home, Byesville, is handling arrangements.

Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Byesville.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.black-eppersonfuneralhomes.com