James White

James Aubrey White died on January 18, 2015 in his home at All the Kings Horses Children's Ranch in Benson, AZ after a 5 year battle with adrenal cancer.

James White was born on April 1, 1947 to Roswell and Frances White in Rochester, NY. He graduated in1965 from Gates-Chili High School, and served in the army from 1969-71. He was a hard worker and enjoyed building and fixing things even as a young man. That passion lead him to own a construction business from 1971 to 1990. After selling his business in 1990, James drove for Schneider and then Crete trucking companies. Long haul trucking allowed him to visit family all over the U.S.

After marrying Lora (Thornton) White in 2005 he left Crete carrier to work for HCI, a company that performs mandatory hearing tests for people working in factories or other loud working environments. James and Lora worked side by side for HCI for five and a half years, and traveled all over the country for their job. On the weekends they had fun exploring new places together, often checking out the local museums, botanical gardens, historical sites, or the best antique shops.

James was diagnosed with cancer in December 2009. Around the same time, he became aware of the existence of "residential facilities" through conversations with his step­ daughters' husband. Residential facilities are the most common term used to describe multiple building campuses that house difficult to place and/or high-risk foster children. James was drawn to this idea and felt that his talent at fixing things could be put to work in service to God and to these broken children. In August 2011 he and Lora moved to All the Kings Horses Children's Ranch in Benson, AZ to work with at risk foster children. James was the resident handyman and helped with innumerable projects including clearing land, fixing tractors, building porches and working on playground projects for the resident children. He found his work at the ranch both challenging and rewarding. James cared deeply for the children on the ranch and found their circumstances heart­ breaking. He was happy to be helping a place, and people, that needed his skills so much.

James is survived by his wife Lora White, by his siblings; Carolyn Holbrook and her husband Stewart, Lewis White and his wife Lyn, Paul White and his wife Judy, and Nancy Bruce and her husband William. He is also survived by his daughters; Sherri Terryberry, Lisa White, and Wendy Sheffield, his step-children; Marcy Potter, Veronica Halstead and Ronald Halstead, his 8 grandchildren and by numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service took place for James at Sierra Vista Cremation and Burial Chapel in Sierra Vista, AZ on January 21, 2015. There will be a graveside service at the Duplain Township Cemetery in St. Johns, MI. on April 18, 2015, at 2:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to in memoriam of James White. Online condolences may be made to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The Family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI.

Read James White 's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.