Gerald “Jerry” White passed away peacefully in his sleep and went home to his Lord and Savior on June 2, 2024 at the age of 88.
The youngest of five children, Jerry was born in Fort Worth, TX to Alice Abagail White (Hollingsworth) and Oscar Lee White Sr. on September 29, 1935. He was a graduate of Amon Carter Riverside High School class of 1954 and attended Arlington State College.
He met Patsy Marie Boatman of Haltom City on a blind double-date and they married the next year on August 17, 1956 and they raised their family in Haltom City.
Jerry was a dependable and valuable employee to the Rock Island Railroad in Irving and then moved to Tyler in 1980 to work for the Cotton Belt Railroad. While living there, he was an active member of Noonday Baptist Church and as an answer to Patsy’s continued prayers, he was baptized on her birthday Sunday, November 22, 1981. From there, he was then transferred to Houston and he and Patsy lived in The Woodlands and Spring areas until his retirement in 1990 at which time they returned to East Texas.
In 1999, with mostly his own two hands, he built their home in Emory and resided there until shortly before his death. He and Patsy have been members of Emory Baptist Church for over 20 years. Jerry and Patsy were president and secretary of the Long Cemetery Association in Cumby, TX for 12 years. While they held these positions, they invested much time and effort to have the cemetery designated as a historical landmark.
Jerry was a dedicated, loving husband and Dad that was hard working and a good provider for his family. He was quiet and reserved by nature, but was also humorous, witty, and teased those he loved. He never expected nor wanted recognition for his good deeds. He was very intelligent and approached life decisions with logic and reason.
He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as brothers, J.D., Woodrow Wilson, Oscar Lee Jr., and sister, Mary Louise Prine.
In addition to his loving and devoted wife of almost 68 years, Jerry is also survived by a son, Stephen White (Carol) of Ladysmith, WI., daughters, Teresa White of Emory, and Andrea Trimble (Tim) of Van Alstyne; grandchildren, Hilary Bond (Darrin), Dr. Kinsey Nelson Worley (Josh), Melissa White and Dakota White; great-grandchildren, Abigail and Danielle Bond and Jade Quella as well as nieces, nephews and other family members.
The White Family wishes to extend special thanks and gratitude to Haley Essary and Lynn Hass of Angel Hands Hospice, the nurses and staff of Country Trails Wellness and Rehab Center, and Heart To Heart Hospice.
Arrangements for a Celebration of Life are pending.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials for Gerald White be made to Emory Baptist Church Family Life Center at P. O. Box 248, Emory, TX 75440 or to the Alzheimer’s Association at ALZ.org or 1-800-272-3900 and specify donations go to Alzheimer’s research.
Paid obituary.