Darlene Mae White

“She’s been a great lady.” Claus White said about his loving wife after 64 years of marriage. Their marriage lasted 68 years before Claus passed on. Darlene was able to make it over a year more without him. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren being her driving force.

Darlene Mae White was born in Enterprise, OR in 1935 and had a wonderful childhood growing up on a ranch in New Meadows. She often told stories about riding her horse, Bubbles, even to school. She learned to drink black coffee, while still very young, on cattle drives. She took baths in a washtub behind the woodstove. There was no power on the ranch until she was in eighth grade and she had no indoor plumbing until she was married! She and her mother could play the piano, although her mother played by ear, Darlene had to have many lessons. Her dad played guitar and harmonica. This was often their evening’s entertainment. She also told of sleeping in the haymow of the barn with her friends while her mom would rattle chains in the night trying to scare them.

Darlene started attending Beaumont school when she was six. Her parents would take the cattle to Weiser in the winter and Darlene would stay with the McReynolds family during the week. On the weekends, she would go visit her parents, Tom and Leona Carr. To travel back and forth, she would ride a train with an engine and only one car, the “Gallopin' Goose”. Darlene graduated school at 17 as a top student.

At 18, she married Claus White.  Claus worked for her dad, Tommy Carr, at the time. Late in life, he told of their first kiss. They were both doing the dishes after dinner in the ranch house. After finishing, Darlene looked up at Claus and then he kissed her. They were married on January 28, 1953, had four children, 15 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

Darlene worked some during her marriage at Crabtree’s Grocery Store, the Star-News and as volunteer secretary for the Rural Fire District. Darlene was the most selfless person. She was known for making sacrifices so others wouldn’t have to. She loved fishing, camping, and being with her family. She also made all her grandkids 17-layer cakes on their 17th birthdays and would never let you leave her house hungry.

She is survived by her children: Claus Jr. and Paula, Kyle and Tabatha, Kayrene Brown and Johnny; grandchildren Terra(Joey) Estrada, Mandi (Ashley) White, Paul (Tif) Hendrix, Courtney (Justin) White, Clayton CW (Marina) White, Corbin (Rebekah) White, Kandis (Gergo) Baldauf, Levi White, Johnny (Tracy) Brown III, Melody (Ivan) Brown, Hunter Brown and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, mother, father, siblings, son Clayton White, and grandchildren Chad Hendrix and Rita Hendrix.

In lieu of flowers, please get your colonoscopy.

Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com

Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.