1944-2026
James Willis White was born April 6, 1944, to George L. and Doris G. (Crowther) White in McPherson, Kansas.
Born and raised on the family farm north of Canton, one his early childhood memories included burning down the family chicken coop that thankfully didn’t have any chickens in it. As he got older, he was in charge of hauling hay with a set of mules and a hay wagon. He liked to tell the story that just as he’d get a set good and broke to where they wouldn’t run off his Grandpa Crowther would trade them to the Army and give him another wild set to work with.
He attended Contention School through the 8th grade before he went on to high school in Canton. There he met a city girl named Judy Vickrey. They were married August 9, 1964, and James’s mother had to sign a permission form for him to get married since he wasn’t yet 21 years of age.
After a 2-year stay in Fort Hood, Texas, where he was serving in the Army, the couple returned to Kansas and eventually made their home north of Canton. He used a self-propelled swather to mow their lawn the first time because they hadn’t bought a lawn mower yet.
James spent many hours tilling the ground, planting the seeds, and harvesting the crops that supported his growing family through the years. Their cattle herd needed hay so at one point James and Judy each had a tractor and baler that they would often run at the same time to make sure it all got put up before the rain fell. When chores were done, their favorite thing to do was park their pickup on a high point in one of their pastures and watch the calves run around with their tails in the air.
James was preceded in death by Judy and their stillborn son, Jay. He is survived by son Justin White and his wife, Adrianna, of Canton; daughter Jennifer Theurer and her husband, Ty, of Clay Center. Granddaughters Haylee Seeber and her husband, Rod Rick, and Emily White. Grandsons Grant Theurer and his wife, Kami, and Grady Theurer. Great-grandsons Augustus and Forrest Seeber. His sisters Dixie Lundquist and Georgianna Leffler and her husband, Donald, also survive.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on February 19 at Canton Township Cemetery, 1541 27th Ave., Canton, with a reception to be held at the Canton Community Center following the service.
Memorials may be made to Pine Village, Moundridge, in care of Olson's Mortuary, P.O. Box 355, Canton, KS 67428.
