MYRTLE BELLE (MILES) WHITE (1908 - 2003)

WHITE, MILES, BARNES, TRACEY, HEAVILAND MCELROY, FERRARO, PICKENS, RUBY, GILLESPIE, REDDING, SMITH, REED, HAUSMANN, LINGARD, HAYNES, BONSALL, HILL

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/15/2020 at 08:52:02

Myrtle Belle (Miles) White, 95, of Lamoni, Iowa died at the Lamoni Nursing and Rehab Center May 24, 2003 where she had resided for 12 years.

She was born on January 21, 1908 at Cherokee to Zara Albert and Hulda Barnes Miles. She was married to Kay Orlando White December 1, 1925 at Storm Lake. Kay and Myrtle had five children, Joyce Tracey, Blaine, Minn.; Marion Heaviland and husband Lee of Independence, Mo.; Doris McElroy and husband Bill of Lamoni; Kay Eugene White and wife Marilyn of Lamoni; and Gerald White and wife Marlene of Urbandale.

Myrtle and Kay lived and worked on farms around Cherokee from the time of their marriage until March 1945 when they moved to Lamoni where they farmed until retiring in 1970.

Myrtle was a hard worker and took great pride in all that she did from making a bed to raising a garden of flowers. She always served as a good example to those around her. She was a great cook and always had enough to share with others.

Myrtle's greatest joy was her grandchildren. She enjoyed both doing for them and seeing to their happiness.

She was a lifelong member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Community of Christ) and remained faithful until death.

She was preceded in death by her husband of over 71 years - Kay White; her parents; five brothers - Elbert, Roy, Walter, Lloyd and Fred; three sisters - Nellie Lingard, Grace Haynes, and Bessie Bonsall; and a son-in-law - Don Tracey.

She is survived by her children; sixteen grandchildren - Timothy Tracey and wife Pat of Monument, Co., Denise Ferraro and husband Michael of Blaine, Minn.; Ronnie Heaviland of Kansas City, Mo.; Debbie Pickens and husband Bob of Farnham Surrey, England; Richard Heaviland and wife Susan of Blue Springs, Mo., Jeffrey McElroy and wife Chirs of Pella, Dennis McElroy and wife Julie of Lamoni; Steve McElroy and wife Alison of Omaha; Sandra Hill and husband Jerry of Lamoni; Janice Ruby and husband Steve of Council Bluffs; Rhonda Gillespie and husband Tim of Mt Ayr; Jackie White of State Center; Kelly White of State Center; Teri Redding and husband Dave of Grimes; David White and wife Sherry of Grand Rapids, Mi., and Brian White of Urbandale; thirty five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; three sister-in-laws - Mabel Smith; Opal Reed; and Ruth Hausman; many relatives and friends.

Source: Former Cherokee County Historical Society Scrapbook. Obituary dated Monday, June 2, 2003.