Mary White

My sweet mom, Mary L. White, left this earth on Monday, August 28, 2017 after a two year and 4 month stay at Casa Maria Healthcare Center. She was 85 years young. She is now walking hand-in-hand with her Savior Jesus on streets of gold! A graveside service is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6th at 10:00 am at South Park Cemetery. All of her friends and former customers are encouraged to attend.

Mom was born on April 7, 1932 in Blanc hard, Oklahoma. She was born during the Great Depression, the 5th of 7 children. She told me many stories of the hard times her family endured. She said they were happy because they didn't know any better!

Mom met my dad when she was 14 and he was 17. She knew his sister, Faye, and when dad first met her he went home and told his mom that he had met the girl he was going to marry. They were married on May 2, 1948. Dad joined the Air Force soon after and mom followed wherever he went. She always said when you make a commitment to someone your home is with them wherever that may be. They were stationed in many different places, from the Azores Islands in Portugal to Glendale, Arizona. Roswell became their home in 1971 after dad had a heart attack while we were living in Glendale. We lived with my aunt and uncle until they could get back on their feet.

After a few months, mom got a job at Gibson's Department Store. After we moved into our own house in 1972 mom got a job at Knadle's Fashions while dad attended watch repair school. She later worked at Levi Strauss and State Farm Insurance. Her boss at State Farm was Jack Boyette. They worked together for 11 years until Jack retired. She was very proud to get her first office job at age 52.

Mom was a devout Christian and loved the Lord with all her heart and soul. She was active at Calvary Baptist Church for many years. After dad died in 2003, she joined First Baptist Church where I am a member. She was famous for her delicious grit casserole which was always devoured at church meetings. Roswell's mayor, Dennis Kintigh, was a big fan of her cooking. I always told her she was a great cook, but she didn't agree. Her favorite kitchen hobby was making jelly and sweet pickles, and she won ribbons at the fair.

Mom was an avid reader and seamstress. She made most of my clothes during my high school years and beyond. She would read late into the night, and said that it was her "sleeping pill."

Mom was preceded in death by a newborn son, Lonnie Ray White, her parents, Thomas and Viola Harris, a brother, Ray Harris, a sister, Dorothy Barton, and her husband, James Raymon White. She is survived by a daughter, Dawn Elaine White of Roswell, 2 brothers, Holland Harris and Bill Harris, both of Oklahoma, 2 sisters, Donnie Griffin, of Hobbs, New Mexico, and Martha Duvall, of Oklahoma, and numerous nieces and nephews.

To say thank you to the staff of Casa Maria Healthcare Center seems so trivial. They took excellent care of mom. I apologize for not remembering everyone's name, but mom loved all of you. She said she had it made there -she got 3 good meals a day, and never had to do dishes or laundry! A special thanks goes out to Majo, Michelle and Brandy. I will be forever grateful to all of you. I never worried about mom because I knew she was safe and loved.

I LOVE YOU, MOM!!

Sleep with the angels and please say hello to my dad and brother.

Service