White, Jean Lee

Jean Lee White 1/6/1925-11/18/2009 Jean Lee White, born Jean 
Stout, to Elmer and Ada, in Puyallup, in 1925, passed away on 
November 18, 2009. Jean graduated from Puyallup Hugh School 
during World War II. She married her high school sweetheart and 
first husband Homer Puariea, in Rhode Island, while Homer was 
on leave from the Navy. After settling back in Puyallup Jean and 
Homer raised two children, Dick and Tanya. While living in 
Puyallup Jean enjoyed golfing, league bowling, and skiing with 
her family at Paradise, in Mt. Rainier National Park. The best hot 
soup and sandwiches were shared in the family station wagon at 
the Paradise lodge parking lot on snowy wintry days. In 1968 
Jean moved to Seattle where she met and married ex-Husky 
football coach Donald White. Jean and Don lived in Columbus, 
Ohio, Mission Viejo, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona, while 
Don pursued a career with the Weyerhaeuser Company. While 
living in Columbus Jean became known as the "orchid lady" 
because of her living orchid collection. Jean enjoyed a natural 
talent for numerous crafts; life was really nothing if she wasn't 
building, decorating, or landscaping her own, her families' or a 
friends' home. She was always most content moving walls, 
painting, hanging wall paper or landscaping. She could build a 
cabinet, plant the yard, sew a dress, bake two pies, and serve a 
gourmet meal on the same day. Her expertise on all things 
"home" gave her royalty status among her immediate family. 
Besides being an honest, sincere, and caring person, she seemed 
to take delight in the generosity she afforded her immediate 
family. She was beautiful, talented, and very fortunate to share 
her life with her loving and giving husband, Don. Her family will 
miss her immensely. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, 
Don White, her daughter, Tanya Puariea, her son, Dick Pauriea 
(Shelley), brothers, Ralph Stout, (Elaine, Sandra), and Harold 
Stout, (Voila, Chad, Ross). Stepchildren Andy (Corrine) White, 
Mary Jo White, Paula White, Steve (Susan) White, Susan Brahmia, 
and grandchildren, Lisa Ward (Brad), Chris Fors, (Michael), Chloe 
Puariea, Ben Puariea, AJ White, Kenny White, William White, 
Shaun White, Taylor White, Jamel Brahmia, Laila Brahmia, 
Yasmine Brahmia and great grandchildren, Shelby and Katie 
Ward. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Jean's 
life Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at Point Defiance Park 
Pagoda - 5400 North Pearl St. Tacoma, WA 98407.

Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on January 5, 2010