Cleda Fern White passed away peacefully at her home on January 30, 2014. She was born in La Cygne, Kansas, on October 11, 1935, to Fern and Elmer McClanahan. She married William Burton White on November 2, 1951. They recently celebrated 62 years of marriage. Together, they raised five sons and enjoyed their grandchildren and great-grandchild. Cleda was a wonderful mother, wife and friend. She enjoyed church, all kinds of crafts as a hobby, was a big flower gardener with a flower room inside the house. She was completely devoted to her husband and five sons. They both enjoyed traveling to warm weather resorts.

Cleda was preceded in death by her parents Fern and Elmer, her sister Vicky, and her brothers Jess Edwards and Carl McClanahan. She is survived by her husband William Burton; children, Bill (Susie), David (Jeanne), James (Lila), Gary (Mary) and Larry (Michelle); her grandchildren Matthew, Michael, Jimmie, Brian, Chris, David, Rebecca, Hannah and Marcus; her great-grandchild Gracie Messer; her brother Kenneth (Arlene); sisters Carol (Wayne) Brewer, Joyce (Larry) Brewer, and Linda Dodge.

Our deepest thanks to our sons and daughter-in-laws, but especially for Gary and his wife Mary who dropped everything and cared for Cleda 24/7 for the last month. Special thanks to the people with Crossroads Hospice and the wonderful care they provided during the final week. Cleda will be remembered for the love that she had for her family. She truly exemplified the qualities of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31. "Her sons rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: many women are capable, but you surpass them all!"

Visitation, Mass and Graveside

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, February 3, 2014, at Amos Family Funeral Home where a Rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with luncheon afterward. Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m.Wednesday, Feb. 5th at Oaklawn Cemetery in La Cygne, Kansas.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following:

St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5901 Flint Street, Shawnee, Kansas 66203

Sister Servants of Mary, 800 North 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66102

Maur Hill Prep School, 1000 Green Street, Atchison, Kansas 66002