Karen Sue White was born on December 5, 1947, at Woodward, Oklahoma, to Ralph and Mary (Yauk) Peil. She passed from this life on May 13, 2011, at her home south of Mutual at the age of 63.
Karen attended Woodward Public Schools, where she graduated in 1965. She lived in Woodward many years, but also lived for a time in Kansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Arizona.
Karen was united in marriage to Roy White on December 31, 1979, in Canadian, Texas. Their family quickly grew to eight including their six children, Franci, Eddie, Joey, Krystal, Kara Dawn, and Benji. Karen worked a variety of jobs through the years, including construction, driving a truck, and most recently, cooking at Sharon-Mutual High School.
Karen loved to attend Falls Creek Baptist Assembly (church camp) every summer with her church, where she was "Grandma Karen" to everyone in the cabin. She was able to put her talents in the kitchen to good use there, feeding sometimes 30 or more campers three meals a day for a week. She even won cooking contests there in various categories. She also loved to cook for her family and her delicious homemade pies were always in demand. Besides cooking, Karen loved to fish and enjoyed nature. One year, she decorated her Christmas tree with broom weed and turkey feathers. It was beautiful and she was very proud of how it turned out. She also looked forward to the annual "retreat" with her sisters. They spent time together singing songs like "We Are Family" and other favorites, making each other laugh, sharing memories, and making new ones. Her dogs, Chewie and Bo, were faithful companions, along with Bones, and were very special to her. She cherished the time she spent with her kids and grandkids and was constantly cooking for them and always giving them anything she thought they might need or want. Her biggest joy was sharing with others her time, energy, and resources and doing whatever she could to help.
Karen is preceeded in death by her husband Roy White; parents Ralph and Mary Peil; brother-in-law Robert (Bob) Nelson; in-laws Willard and Hattie White, Hazel White, Alvin and Marjorie White, Lewis and Vivian White, Carol and Buddy Plummer, Rose and Von Castor, Donald Moss and Vea Dick.
Family members remaining to cherish her memory are children Franci Custar and husband Jay of Sharon, OK, Eddie White and wife Marna of Mutual, OK, Joey White and wife Carol of Enid, OK, Krystal Nestor and husband Mark of Albuquerque, NM, Kara Dawn Honaker and husband Carson of Chippewa Falls, WI, and Benji White and wife Lori of Putnam, OK; grandchildren Julia Blakemore and husband Michael, Jory Custar and wife Cassidy, Edric, Zach, and Gage White, Braden White, Taylor Nestor, Kaylie, Natalie, Emily, and Stella Honaker, Blane White, adopted granddaughter Becky Nevill and husband Doug and their children, Jordin and Mathew; brother Steve Peil and wife Kathe, sister Annette Nelson, brother Dallas Peil and wife Carol, sister LeaAnn Gonser, sister LaVon Rippetoe and husband Rodney, sister-in-law Evelyn Moss, brother-in-law Seward Dick; special aunt Carolina Ziemer, and many many nieces, nephews, other family, and many friends.