She was born March 9, 1999, in Clinton, Mo., the oldest daughter of Gary Lester French and Pamela Ann (McKinney) French. As the family grew, Whitney was joined by two sisters, Allison and Heather. Whitney was a Senior at the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg. She was a 2017 graduate of Leeton High School. She had worked at Sunflower Bank of Leeton, Sonic in Clinton, Casey’s in Leeton, and Mini Adventures daycare. She was an Elementary Education major and was currently working at the Leeton R-X School District as a teacher and color guard and cheer coach. She was very creative and loved crafts, quilting, and knitting. She was raising two goats, Thelma and Louise and also enjoyed her cats, Missy and Moxie. She was a member of the Clinton United Methodist Church. Survivors include her parents, Gary and Pam French, Clinton, Mo.; her sisters, Allison and Heather French, both of the home; maternal grandmother, Patricia McKinney, Clinton, Mo.; paternal grandmother, Dorothy French, Clinton, Mo.; aunts and uncles, Terry Russell (Kevin), Charlotte, North Carolina, Sheree Poole, Riverside, Mo., Russ McKinney (Beth), Clinton, Mo., Susan McKinney (Paul), Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Carolyn McKinney, Festus, Mo.; several cousins, and many friends. She was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Bruce McKinney, and paternal grandfather, Roger French. Funeral services will be 10:30 am, Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at the Benson Convention Center, Clinton, with Dr. Dan Lowry officiating. Burial will be in the Englewood Cemetery, Clinton. The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday evening, September 22, at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Masks and social distancing are encouraged. A memorial fund has been established and contributions may be made to the Whitney French Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.
