In Remembrance Of
Joan L. White
Joan L. White, 85, of St. Johns, FL, formerly of Edgerton, MO, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2017, surrounded by her family.
She was born on August 20, 1931 to Clarence Otis and Wilma Marie (Moore) Nicholson in Hutchinson, KS.
While she didn’t know it at the time, Joan met the love of her life, James William White, Sr., while working at The Boeing Company. Soon after, on December 17, 1954, they were united in marriage. After their marriage, they lived in Altus, OK, Wichita, KS, Slydell, LA, Shreveport, LA, Roswell, NM, Platte City, MO, and in 1966 they moved to Edgerton, MO where they made their home. They enjoyed 47 years of marriage before her husband, Jim, passed away on October 3, 2001. Joan then lived in Joplin, MO, Burlington, KS and St. Johns, FL.
Joan was a bookkeeper for Nash Gas in Edgerton, MO and a florist for many years with her dear friend Jean, at Jean’s Flowers and Gifts in Smithville, MO. She was also former Mayor of Edgerton, MO and owned her own business, Lots of Love Bears, and became known as the ‘Bear Lady’.
She enjoyed being a Brownie and Girl Scout Troop Leader for her daughters and their friends, who still have many fond memories of all their fun times together. She volunteered extensively at various hospitals, including Saint Luke’s North Hospital (formerly Spelman Memorial Hospital) (Smithville, MO) and Coffey County Hospital (Burlington, KS).
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents, Paul and Wilma (Marie) (Moore) Wheeler; her infant daughter, Rhonda K. White; her sons, James W. White, Jr. and Bruce E. Parcell; her sister, Delores Livingston; and her brother, Gary Nicholson.
Joan is survived by her son, Steven White; five daughters, Lori Hoskins (Kevin); Kim Gibson (Ben); Valerie Werner (Wade); Kelly White (Ray); Traci Cory (Jason); her sisters, Marlene Madden and Janet Schreck, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, other loving family members and countless longtime friends.
Funeral Services: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 16, 2017, with visitation following until 8:30 p.m. at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home in Smithville, MO
Burial: 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2017, at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation in honor of her granddaughter, Natasha Knight (https://www.dystonia-foundation.org/donate or (800)377-3978)
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4 comments
Lisa Wickam Landis
Many fond memories of Jo….she lived being our Brownie and Girl Scout leader…and I loved her…I talked to her many times when she worked at Jeans Flowers in Smithville.I stated the night with her daughter Kelly a few times and remember she always had crafts fir us to do…and my stomach hurt from laughing at her. I know her family will miss her. My thoughts and Blessings go out to all of you… especially Kelly.
Noni Dennis
This is not goodbye but until we meet again! I LOVE you So much! You were always my favorite with the way you always made me laugh! 😂 You were fiesty & SO much FUN! I will miss you dearly! â¤â¤
Gina Perry
I love my Aunt Jo, aka Granny Gert, SO MUCH! I will truly miss her quick wit, spunky attitude, thoughtfulness, love, quirky smile and the way she always made me laugh! I have so many wonderful, family memories with her and I will cherish those for the rest of my life. See you on the other side Auntie!
Judy Rhodes
I treasure Jo's friendship and the joy she brought to those around her. Jo and I volunteered at Coffey County Hospital in the Gift Shop on Wednesday afternoons. What fun we had. I would work on the books while Jo baked cookies. Her hospital employee friends made it a point to stop by and say hello to us, (mainly Jo). She became known on Wednesdays as 'the cookie lady.' When the cookies were cooled and ready to go in the display case, Jo would pull over the little step stool so she could reach the top shelf. I'd offer to do that to which her retort was,"No. I can do it myself." She always had a smile and I would tease her about sounding like a broken record. We laughed a lot!! If I wanted to get in touch with her around supper time, I knew I could catch her in the hospital cafeteria having supper with her employee friends. Those friends tell me they remember her often with a story followed by laughter.I am sure her family knows how very special each of them were. She spoke often of Jim, her children, grands, and greats, also, siblings. I was fortunate to meet several when they were at Jo's. I have known Lori and Kevin for a long time.I am missing my Wednesday afternoon 'buddy' and my Sunday morning 'pew buddy.'