Maryestel Ford White's Obituary
MARYESTEL FORD WHITE (formerly Maryestel Schuele) passed away early Monday, November 7, 2011 at Methodist Germantown Hospital. She graduated from Nicholas Blackwell High School in Bartlett in 1941, and performed in a touring troupe of Memphis entertainers for the USO during World War II. At age 18 she married Army Captain John J. Schuele, to whom she was married for 27 years. Together they founded the East Memphis Shoppers News in 1945. During the 1950s Maryestel served as Regional Director for the Girl Scouts of America. In 1961 she received her Bachelor’s Degree, followed by a Masters Degree in biology from Memphis State University, and taught biology and was a choreographer for musical stage productions at St. Mary’s Episcopal High School, Central High School and Germantown High School. After living in Dana Point, California for 9 years, she returned to Memphis to marry Sidney Carrol White, Jr (“Bill”) who was Executive Director of the National Hardwood Lumber Association. They shared 32 glorious years before his passing on November 11, 2009. Maryestel is survived by daughters Kay Lloyd (Robert) of Maui, Hawaii, Leigh Scheele and Daphne Hewett of Memphis, Gale White Nyseth of Athens, Georgia and sons Carroll White (Anne) of St Louis and David White (Karen) of Houston, TX., and a grandmother of 11 grandchildren, Lauire Dance Caradonna, Jay Dance, Nicole Barnard Mobley, Brooke Barnard Cassle, Brian, Ben and Katie White, Anna Nyseth, and Christopher, Benjamin and Andrew White, and 15 great grandchildren. Maryestel and Bill White were long-time members of the Germantown United Methodist Church, 2335 S. Germantown Road, where funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 12 at 11:30 a.m. Visitation for the public will be held in the Church Parlor beginning at 10 a.m., prior to the funeral service. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Germantown United Methodist Church or charity of the donor’s choice.
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