Mary Jane White

Mary Jane White, age 71, passed away in Fayetteville on Oct. 6, 2014. She was born in Monroe, La., on Dec. 24, 1942, to Christine and Howard Young. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, with Dr. Jack A. Wilson and the Rev. J. Anthony Holifield officiating. Private burial will be held at Fayetteville National Cemetery. Mary Jane graduated from Neville High School where she was a member of the Delta Beta Sigma national sorority. She graduated with a BS degree in secondary education from Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM) in Monroe. She was a member of the Phi Mu sorority. She received an ME degree from the University of Arkansas. She was married to Jackson White in 1969. They lived most of their married life in Fayetteville. She taught English at Fayetteville High School for five years. They also lived in Carbondale, Ill., and Little Rock, Ark. Mary Jane was a member of Central United Methodist Church and a member of the Asbury Sunday school class. She served as recording secretary of the Administrative Board for eight years. She was a past president of the United Methodist Women and a former member of Circles 3 and 5. She was the coordinator for the needlepoint project for kneeling cushions and chair upholstery in the sanctuary and chapel. She also served as president of the University Women's Club. Mary Jane was initiated into P.E.O. in 1978 by Chapter KL, Carbondale, Ill. She was a member of Chapter I in Little Rock, Chapter K in Fayetteville, and became a charter member of Chapter DG in Fayetteville. She was elected to a seven-year term on the P.E.O. Arkansas State Board, serving as president in 1996-97. She was appointed to the finance and nominating committees of International Chapter serving a total of eight years. Her life was greatly enhanced by the many friendships she made while traveling for P.E.O. in the United States and Canada. Mary Jane had many hobbies, including sewing, all needlecrafts, making greeting cards, playing bridge and reading. She enjoyed fundraising for the P.E.O. educational philanthropies. She knitted prayer shawls and chemo caps for Chapter DG. She was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband; two sons, Chris Thorn (Kim) of Carrollton, Texas, and Larry White of Lafayette, Colo. She is also survived by three stepsons, Alan White of Lafayette, La., Roger White (Patricia) of Louisville, Colo., and John White (Sonia) of Salt Lake City, Utah. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Cassie White, Tiffany Thorn Martin (Jason), Amanda White, Philip White, Blake Thorn and London Thorn. She had two great-granddaughters, Layla of Austin, Texas, and Harmony of Texas. She is also survived by a brother, William H. Young (Bernice); one niece; and two nephews. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church (P.O. Box 1106, 72702); or the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312). To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory of Fayetteville.