Carolyn K. White

MOUNT MORRIS – Carolyn K. White, 75, of Mount Morris, died Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, after a brief illness.

Carolyn was born Sept. 10, 1939, in Sumner, Iowa, to Lois E. and Hilbert M. Haack. She moved to Forreston as a young girl and graduated from the Forreston schools in 1957. Carolyn loved to regale the fun times with her classmates, often being very involved in planning the 1957 class reunions. She organized a “Seniors Then – Seniors Now” tour to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for their 50th graduation anniversary, reliving their senior class trip. She married Kenneth Dale White on Dec. 5, 1959. She moved to Mount Morris, where she became an avid “Mounder” fan, enjoying their basketball games with fervor. Carolyn was very active in her community. She was involved with Home Extension for many years. Carolyn once won “Homemaker of the Year.” She spearheaded the Home and Business Decorating Contest, held in years past for Let Freedom Ring, which she was involved with in many capacities for several years. She and her daughter, Doreen, owned and operated The Flower Box in Mount Morris for many years.

Carolyn had attended Evangelical Free Church of Mount Morris, where she was involved in Bible school, singing and the Women’s Missionary Society. When her children were young, Carolyn would sew much of their clothing and costumes, and created many other sewing projects. More recently, she crocheted “names” for her friends and family. Crafting of all sorts was something she enjoyed, often including her entire family in the process. Preserving huge amounts of vegetables and fruits from Dale’s large garden to feed her family was an annual occurrence at the White house. Carolyn was a friend to all who knew her, and was very thoughtful and giving, often remembering family and friends with cards or gifts on numerous occasions. She enjoyed spending time with her very special pet cat, Lily White.

She is survived by her three daughters: Doreen White and Sara (Dan Strohecker) Martin, both of Mount Morris, and April White of Minneapolis; two sons, Jason (Julie) White and Larry (Edie) White, both of Mount Morris; six grandchildren, of whom she was most proud, Jacob and Jennifer White, Clayton and Hanna White, and Grace and Audra Martin; one brother, Greg (Cheri) Haack of Freeport; brothers-in-law, Donald (Verna) White of Forreston and Gordon White of Jonesborough, Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Judy White of Chuckey, Tennessee,  and Wanda (Curtis) Dedmond of Farmville, Virginia; and many special cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and her brothers-in-law, Carl Ray and Mac White, and sisters-in-law, Bessie and Carolyn White, all of Tennessee.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Finch Funeral Home, 405 E. Hitt St., Mount Morris. The funeral will be at 11 a,.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Larry Jameson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Morris.