Harold Hunter White Jr.

Harold Hunter White, Jr., passed away peacefully at home on Bayou La Croix, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on Friday, November 28, 2025, one day after celebrating his 96th birthday on Thanksgiving Day. He was surrounded by the love of his life of 54 years, Lynne, his four sons, twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Hunter was born on November 27,1929 in New Orleans. He was a charming, kind, loving and handsome southern gentleman who lived a life full of spirit, vitality, and elegance. He was a lawyer, oil man, banker, farmer, competitive sportsman, lover of boats and cars and outdoor pursuits including fishing and hunting. Hunter was sharp of mind and quick of wit. He greeted you with his infectious smile, kindness, and good humor.

He was preceded in death by his father Harold Hunter White (Harry), his mother Gladys Legier White, his brother John Forrest White (Jack) and his first wife Jane Bright White.

Hunter had two sons with Jane, Harold Hunter “Terry” White, III (Kathleen Viguerie), Michael Bright White (Virginia Burke). He is survived by his wife Lynne Farwell White and their two sons, Frank Evans Farwell White (Winifred McMurry), and Paxton Legier White (Kimberly Milano).

Hunter loved his family dearly and was proud of his twelve grandchildren Harold Hunter White, IV, Shaun Forrest White (Kelsey), Jane White Hunicke (Derek), Kevin Beresford White (Bere) (Brooke), Michael Bright White, Junior, Shelby Jane Ottley White, Elinor Pitot White, Paxton Legier White, Junior, Grace Kerry White, Evans Farwell White, King Hartwell White, and Beauregard Hunter White. He was so fortunate to have known his five great grandchildren Jack, Pepper, Chase, Lotte, and Genevieve. Also, he is survived by his niece Allison White Zuber and nephew John Forrest White, Jr.

Hunter graduated from Isidore Newman School in 1947 where he was captain and quarterback of the football team. In the summers during high school, he attended Culver Military Academy which instilled in him resilience, leadership, and discipline. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1951, where he captained the squash team and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon.

After returning to New Orleans, he graduated from Tulane Law School in 1953. That same year he also graduated from the Air Force ROTC and married his first wife Jane Bright. In January 1954, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant officer in the Air Force and stationed at Pope Air Force Base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served in the Judge Advocate office. In 1954, Hunter was reassigned to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. In 1955, he was assigned to the Air Force base in Alexandria, Louisiana. A friend affectionately recalls on his days off while on base, he bought the plans for a small wooden boat. After months of assembling and following directions he launched the boat with no leaks. However, if you turned the boat left the boat would go right and visa versa.

Following his passion for the oil business he became Vice President in 1956 of the Seaboard Oil Company. Three months later he was honored when John Bricker asked him to be Vice President of South Shore Oil & Gas. That was the beginning of a long-standing relationship between the two as Hunter served throughout his lifetime on The Board of Booth-Bricker Fund. He served as Vice President of Hibernia Bank from 1969 –1971.

In 1971, he married Lynne Watkins Farwell. With Lynne by his side, they were an amazing partnership and testament to devotion. In addition to sharing a life full of love, upon the passing of Lynne’s father Frank Evans Farwell, Hunter served as the President of the family business Milliken and Farwell. He was a member of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from 1969-1975.

In 1981, Hunter purchased a three-story former cotton factoring building on Union Street in New Orleans and restored it as his office where he would continue to work and pursue business opportunities well into his 90’s.

In 1995, Hunter was so honored to join The United States Senior Golf Association and thrived on the competition and camaraderie that came from traveling to compete and socialize with other great golfers from across the country. For the past almost 30 years Hunter and his family have followed the sun to the Lyford Cay and the Old Fort Bay communities where they have made countless friends and memories.

Hunter spent numerous summers as a child and young adult in his parent’s home in Orford, New Hampshire and later established a summer residence with Lynne in Little Compton, Rhode Island. An avid tennis player since his days at Newman, Hunter loved the competition and was quickly embraced by the membership at the Sakonnet Golf Club in 1977 where he competed and won countless tennis and golf tournaments. In addition to becoming an original member of the Sakonnet Point Club, Hunter was also a member of various other clubs throughout his lifetime including the New Orleans Country Club, the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club, the Lyford Cay Club, the Old Fort Bay Club, the Boston Club, the Sakonnet Yacht Club, the New York Yacht Club, the Jupiter Island Club, as well as numerous philanthropic organizations and men’s clubs including the Recess Club, both in the New Orleans area and throughout the United States and abroad.

As a New Orleanian, Hunter loved Mardi Gras and was a member of many Mardi Gras organizations and was honored to be King of The Mystic Club in 1992 and to have two granddaughters as Queens of Carnival by the Rex Organization.

Hunter’s charismatic personality, cheerfulness, curiosity, vitality, zest for life, intelligence, wisdom, good manners, and genuine interest in others led to his many life adventures from flying a helicopter to dancing until well after midnight. A member of the bacchanalian organization, the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin Hunter was as much the life of the party as he was the keen intellect to debate current affairs around the breakfast table. Hunter was equally as elated playing golf or shooting in Scotland, Ireland, and England with his best buddies as he was at home riding his yellow Cub Cadet lawnmower (and later a Zero Turn) cutting acres of grass along the bayou and fields in Rhode Island. He relished his time on the water on his boat “Cajun” as much as he enjoyed plucking the feathers off his latest dove or quail. Among all the many things that Hunter was, he was also a gourmand and to celebrate his 90th birthday Louisiana chef John Folse created one of the most exquisite meals of classic Cajun and Creole cuisine perhaps ever served up in Hancock County.

Hunter was a life force, a gentleman born in a special era in time. His energy was all encompassing. With even just the slightest of expression he could lift anyone’s spirit as they were embraced by his mile wide smile and youthful sense of humor.

It is apt that Hunter’s life began the day before Thanksgiving and culminated 96 years later, the day after a holiday centered on gratitude, family, and feasting. Hunter often brought people together through a shared meal or sporting activity. He was a blessing and a man who honored traditions, charitable acts, and community gathering. He enjoyed creating memories with loved ones and reflecting on the world around him. He lived a life full of thanks for his family, nature, and his fellow man.

In this spirit of thanks, we would like to express our gratitude to his exceptional care givers the past few years who diligently stood by his side including Jimmy Lopez, Ronalyn Baltero, Leslie Robin Jordan, Alma Escoto, David Nickerson, Dawn McDonald, Donna McMahon, Mery Nowel and his long time assistant Debbie Dicarlo.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to The Bright School for The Deaf, 201 Pasadena Ave. Metairie, LA 70001.

A private family burial will be held for Hunter as he wished. Family and friends will gather at 2:00 PM for a Celebration of Life on Thursday, December 11, 2025.