BONNIE LEE WHITE

Bonnie Lee White, age 83, a resident of 2191 Ironwood Road, Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 at Mercy Health Center.

She was born Sept. 2, 1925 in Prescott, Kan., the daughter of Byron and Nellie Pruitt Harkness. Bonnie was a 1943 graduate of Prescott High School. She received her teaching certificate from Pittsburg State University and received additional education from Fort Scott Community College, Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., as well as several correspondence courses from schools including UCLA.

Bonnie taught school in Bourbon and Linn counties for seven years.

She married Joseph J. White on August 1, 1947 in Fort Scott. The couple met while Bonnie was employed by Western Insurance Company as a dictaphone operator. They were married for 61 years.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bell, California, for more than 25 years and taught Sunday school most of that time. She was a member of the Mayflower Society. She was an avid reader, enjoyed photography, traveling and was a wonderful cook.

Bonnie and Joe lived 34 years in southern California prior to returning to Fort Scott in 1990.

Survivors include her husband Joe of the home; two sons, Keith Alan White of the home and Kent James White and wife Shirley Ann, Joplin, Mo.

Also surviving is a sister, Leta Sutherland, Piedmont, S.C., and three grandchildren, Zachary Matthew White, Alyssa Ann White, and Joy Dawn White.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Eldon, Halsey and Kay Harkness and one sister, Thelma Harkness.

Gary Joe White and Danny Brown will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in U. S. National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to either the American Heart Association or charity of choice and may be sent to the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.

Words of comfort may be emailed to the family at condolences@cheneywitt.com.