Ethel White

Ethel was born to Roy and Mary (Sakala) McFarlin March 9, 1928 in Fondis, Colorado. She departed this earth and joined her Heavenly Savior on May 4, 2025. She was of the Baptist Faith and a member of Plum Bayou Baptist Church. She was excited to reach her 97th birthday and wanted everyone to know about it.

She received her education in a one-room school house down the hill, just off a gravel road, from the home where she grew up.

Ethel worked on her family’s farm, alongside her siblings, feeding and taking care of the cattle, chickens and various other farm animals. She was a member of the local 4H where she learned to sew and cook.

When she was in her early twenties, she and two of her sisters moved to Colorado Springs where she worked in a floral greenhouse growing Carnations. She met her future husband, Vernon White who was serving with the US Army at Fort Carson. On July 16, 1950, Ethel and Vernon married and had five children. In 1966, they moved to England, Arkansas.

Ethel lived her life to the fullest through simple pleasures; attending church, working on as many church-oriented projects as she was able, gardening, canning, and quilting. Her flower and vegetable gardens were her pride and joy. She shared a passion for bluegrass music along with her husband, Vernon and often accompanied him on the drums. She and Vernon traveled, camped and played music with many close friends all over the state of Arkansas and many nursing homes. To the nursing home patients delight, as the music played, Ethel would dance with them by holding their hands, as they were seated and sway back and forth.

She possessed a gentle soul, a positive manner and was a great listener. She supported her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren like no other mother or grandmother could. She loved to take family scenic road trips and have early morning breakfast cookouts, in the hills and mountains, above Colorado Springs. Ethel loved getting hugs and talking to her oldest grandchild to her youngest great grandchild.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 69 years, Vernon; son, Lloyd White, daughter-in-law Karen White and grandson, William Alexander White; her sisters, Agnes Woodward, Florence McFarlin, Magdelene Whisenand, Maymie Kochera, twin sister, Evelyn Allen, Vera Colbert and brothers, Bert McFarlin and Vernie McFarlin. She is survived by daughters Carolyn White of Cabot; Janice Edwards and spouse Danny Edwards of England and sons & spouses, Chris and Norma Edwards also of England and their children, Owen and Aure; Andy and Amy Edwards of Cave Springs, Arkansas and their sons, Bennett & Connor; Laura White of Austin, Arkansas; son Errol White of North Little Rock and daughter, Taylor White; Lloyd’s daughters, Katherine White of Fort Worth, Texas and Zoe White of Dallas, Texas and one sister, Betty Tullis of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to join the family to celebrate her life, Saturday, May 10 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road, NLR 72117. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Funeral Services will follow at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Rest Hills Cemetery, adjacent to the funeral home. The family would like to thank Mom’s Pallbearers, Chris Edwards, Andy Edwards, Danny Edwards, Owen Edwards, Bryant Wiley, and Craig Hoff.

Memorials may be made to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy – psp.org/ways-to-give (Lloyd D. White); Plum Bayou Baptist Church, 8214 Arkansas Highway 256, England, AR 72046-9555 or Disabled Veterans – dav.org/donate.