Merle Maurice "Newt" White 1921-1999

WHITE CREES JERMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/2/2011 at 17:32:26

Sioux City Journal
18 November 2010

.SIOUX CITY -- Merle "Newt" White, 77, died August 14, 1999, at home in Sioux City. His wife, Lucille "Lucey" White, 87, died Nov. 13, 2010, at a Sioux City hospital.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Armstrong Funeral Home of Anthon, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.

Merle Maurice "Newt" White was born Dec. 20, 1921, in Danbury, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Emma (Crees) White. He moved with his family to Correctionville, Iowa, and graduated from Correctionville High School in 1939. He later served in the U.S. Army.

Helen Lucille "Lucey" Jerman was born March 21, 1923, in Anthon, Iowa, the daughter of Oliver and Helen (Hawn) Jerman. She grew up in the Lucky Valley area near Anthon that the family owned at the time.

Newt and Lucey were united in marriage on Sept. 29, 1941. The couple first lived in Anthon, where Newt ran the Sinclair Station. He later owned and operated White's Cash Market in Anthon, where his primary work was serving as a butcher, which became his career for the rest of his life. The family moved to Moville, Iowa, in 1965, where he worked at Jim's Grocery. During that time, Lucey began working as a secretary at PCA in Sioux City, where she continued to work until her retirement. Newt then worked at the European Import House and later retired from the Corner Store in South Sioux City.

Newt was a talented musician, being able to play the saxophone, guitar and banjo. The couple loved to dance and as a result began organizing bus tours to follow certain big band groups. Lucey was a gifted seamstress, often designing and sewing clothes and suits for herself and her family. She enjoyed her skills with crafts and especially latch hook rugs that she also designed, sharing many with her family and friends. The couple found pleasure in reupholstering furniture, once recovering a chair in mink. The couple was a happy loving couple who truly enjoyed their retirement time together.

After Newt died in 1999, Lucey remained in their home until 2003, when she moved to South Sioux City next to her daughter and son-in-law, who were primary in her daily care. During this time, Lucey's daughter, Nancy, was in a pool league at Bergie's Bar in Sioux City every Wednesday night. Lucey would prepare goodies and go with Nancy where she shared her tasty treats with the people there and developed a deep relationship with her many new friends, always loving the experience. She was able to remain living there until the date of her death as a result of her family's devoted attention.

Those survivors left to embrace their loving memories of Newt and Lucey are three sons and their wives, Gary and Pam White of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Rev. Harold "Stub" and Dorreen White of Sacramento, Calif., and Curt and Sue White of Anthon, Iowa; one daughter and her husband, Nancy and Jim Lane of South Sioux City; 14 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.

Newt and Lucey were the last surviving members of each of their families, so they were preceded in death by both their parents; all their siblings; and along with one granddaughter.