Ann B. White

Born on October 14, 1930 on the plains of Oklahoma, Ann White, born as Annie Bell Rector, joined the family of Emma Jane (Bynum) and Charles Isaak Rector, the 7th of 8 children. She spent her early days on a farm in Moorewood where she helped with farm chores and enjoyed the company of her older siblings and younger brother. She lost her father when she was 5, and was raised for the remainder of her childhood by her mother “Janie” Rector. After her father’s death, the family moved to Clinton, OK where her mother worked as a seamstress, and where Annie helped support her family by doing household chores for other families. In 1942 when Annie was 12, the family moved by train to Oregon to join her married older siblings in Amity and Independence. The change from the dusty farms of Oklahoma to the lush Willamette Valley, with its abundance of fruit, inspired them to can over 100 quarts of peaches the first year. When Annie (now known as Annabelle) was entering High School, her family moved to Salem where she attended Salem High School and Calvary Baptist Church. The church was the center of her social life, and where she met her future husband, Gordon White. She graduated from Salem High School in 1949, and studied Home Economics at Oregon State College (now Oregon State University). Gordon and Ann were married in September 1952 and raised a family of 4 children, Debbie, Cindy, Greg, and Kevin. Ann’s niece, Melbie, also lived with them for a number of years. As well as being involved in the raising of children, Ann was involved in many community and church activities. She was a member of PEO, Boys and Girls Aid Society, and was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, including helping with youth ministry. She loved to entertain and had many elegant events at their home. Ann divorced from Gordon after 25 years, and was married briefly to Robin Elliott, from whom she was also divorced. It was at this time that she moved from the family home in Salem to Tigard, Oregon. She lived in Tigard and Hillsboro where she worked for Allergy Associates till her retirement in 1995. Since then she has lived in Tigard, Newport, and Lake Oswego. She was 87 years old at the time of her demise. She is survived by children, Debbie Adamson-White, Cindy (and Cliff) Berger, Greg (and Chris) White, and Kevin (and Kandi) White, 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. The most important lesson that she taught us, was the importance of family. And it is this legacy that we take with us. We will miss her very much.