Louise Marie (Schuller) White

Louise Marie (Schuller) White passed away Saturday evening, December 31, 2016 in Yakima, Washington after a brief battle with Leukemia. Louise was born at home in Tieton, Washington on August 25, 1934 to Louise Estelle (Mondor) Schuller and Nicholas J. Schuller. As the second youngest with four brothers, Louise was known from an early age simply as ‘Sis.’

As an infant, Louise relocated with her family to her great uncle’s (Joe Slavin) farm near Tampico where her dad managed the orchard, dairy and hop operations. Louise and her family lived on the Slavin ranch until 1942 when her parents purchased the John Schick farm near the Tampico store. Louise’s family made this a true “family farm” as all seven family members worked hard raising hops, dairy cows and later alfalfa. Louise attended Marks School for first grade before attending the Tampico School for second through sixth grades. The Tampico School lacked indoor plumbing and had fewer than 20 students spanning all six grades. This made the transition to Franklin Jr High School, a larger city school, in the seventh grade very difficult for a shy country girl. Starting in the tenth grade, Louise attended Yakima High School (now Davis High School) where she graduated in 1952.

In 1954, while working at the Bolt Truck Company and Service Station, Louise met Robert (Bob) White who was working across the street at the Bell Wyman Used Car Lot. They were married two years later on November 17th 1956 and were blessed with two children: a daughter Debra (deceased 2002) and son Larry. In 1963 they built a home in Tampico and lived there for 43 years before moving back to Yakima. As a young family in the 1960s and 1970s, Louise along with Bob and the kids spent many weekends camping, fishing and horseback riding at Conrad Meadows, west of Tampico. Later in life, Louise continued to share her love for camping and fishing with her grandchildren.

Louise worked for Standard Finance from 1957 to 1977. In 2000 Louise retired from Orchard-Rite Wind Machines after 20 years. In retirement, Louise and Bob were rarely seen apart. Whether they were running errands in town or traveling throughout the Northwest in their Winnebago with the Apple Rovers motorhome club, they were always together. Every summer they found numerous opportunities to camp, fish and sit around the fire together. Louise found joy throughout the years providing care and support for her daughter who battled Multiple Sclerosis. Louise attended the Yakima Christian and Missionary Alliance Church where she became a member and was baptized in 2002. She loved to read, cook, bake and host family gatherings and holiday celebrations. She always quipped that the secret to her cooking was that she stirred the ingredients with her toes! Her proudest moments were the birth of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and being able to spend time with them.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years Robert (Bob), daughter Debra, grandson Robby, her parents, and brothers Robert (Bob), Francis and Jim. She is survived by her son Larry (Teresa) White, son-in-law Virgil (Karen) Anders, grandchildren Crissie (Daniel) Eells, Chad (Sarah) Anders, Rachel White, Nicholas White and great grandchildren Claire, Simon, Coral, a brother Richard (Janet), and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service celebrating Louise’s life will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 11:00am at the Yakima Alliance Church (902 S. 36th Ave Yakima, WA).

To share a memory of Louise, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.