Theresa "Jeanne" Eugenia White

Jeanne loved her life of 98 years; worked hard, loved harder, and later in life, enthusiastically fed her interests in exercise, meditation, the arts, spirituality, politics, and dance. She was a gift to those that were lucky enough to call her a friend, and there were many! She loved them all.

She was born on the first day of summer, and longest day of the year, June 21st, 1926, in Gillette, Wyoming, to Edward and Theresa Pacot. And as mother Tess would often say, “It was the longest day of the year… definitely felt like the longest day to me.”

She and JD fell in love and were married at the tender young ages of 17 and 16. They built a life together working on the large White family ranch in Wyoming. In early years, Jeanne arose daily before dawn to prepare a hearty breakfast, followed by dinner and supper for family, friends, and ranch hands. She was a good cook. Later, Jeanne was a part of all ranch activities; wrangling cattle on horseback, caring for sick calves, driving farm equipment, bailing hay, and branding. She drove a caterpillar tractor helping to build a road and bridge, flew solo in a ranch plane, and bottle-fed baby lambs. She taught all forms of dance to her daughter Vicki and her high school classmates... You name it, she did it. Late in life Jeanne was reading an old diary from her young adult years and exclaimed, “How in the world did I get so much done in a day!”

In the mid-70s they sold the ranch and moved closer to her parents in the Seattle area. Jeanne became the explorer. She took up oil painting, with fine examples hung throughout her house, belly danced in a troupe, became a master and taught Thai Chi, practiced yoga, practiced Zen, learned Spanish. She was a sponge, soaking up eclectic interests and gaining a stable of close friends in the process.

Traditionally, living to 98 means outliving all your friends. That wasn’t Jeanne’s reality. According to neighbors, parties at her lakefront home were legendary. At 90, she threw herself a birthday party in the yard that included a 40 person Tahitian dance troupe and a country western band, Jeanne in a nutshell. To the end, she had a full plate of visitors, young and old, with a schedule so busy it required two best friends and personal assistants to keep bills paid and her social calendar organized! Thank you, Cindy and Shelley, for 20 years of help. Also, a huge thanks to neighbor handyman, Randy, and her caregivers whom she loved as family.

A visit with Jeanne meant being on your toes. She asked probing questions and wanted to hear and share views on a vast variety of subjects. With that mischievous smile and probing directness, she would have made an excellent podcast or media news interviewer.

Jeanne, your wisdom was so appreciated, as was your style and sense of humor. Leaving on Christmas was a fitting tribute. You were an angel amongst us. We already miss you.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, JD and younger sister, Audrey. She is survived by daughter, Vicki, a loving daughter that called her mother twice daily just to check in. Jeanne will be interred with her husband, JD, at Floral Hills Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be sent to a charity of your choice.

"In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center"