Joan L. White, 85, of St. Johns, FL, formerly of Edgerton, MO, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2017, surrounded by her family.

She was born on August 20, 1931 to Clarence Otis and Wilma Marie (Moore) Nicholson in Hutchinson, KS.

While she didn’t know it at the time, Joan met the love of her life, James William White, Sr., while working at The Boeing Company. Soon after, on December 17, 1954, they were united in marriage. After their marriage, they lived in Altus, OK, Wichita, KS, Slydell, LA, Shreveport, LA, Roswell, NM, Platte City, MO, and in 1966 they moved to Edgerton, MO where they made their home. They enjoyed 47 years of marriage before her husband, Jim, passed away on October 3, 2001. Joan then lived in Joplin, MO, Burlington, KS and St. Johns, FL.

Joan was a bookkeeper for Nash Gas in Edgerton, MO and a florist for many years with her dear friend Jean, at Jean’s Flowers and Gifts in Smithville, MO.  She was also former Mayor of Edgerton, MO and owned her own business, Lots of Love Bears, and became known as the ‘Bear Lady’.

She enjoyed being a Brownie and Girl Scout Troop Leader for her daughters and their friends, who still have many fond memories of all their fun times together. She volunteered extensively at various hospitals, including Saint Luke’s North Hospital (formerly Spelman Memorial Hospital) (Smithville, MO) and Coffey County Hospital (Burlington, KS).

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents, Paul and Wilma (Marie) (Moore) Wheeler; her infant daughter, Rhonda K. White; her sons, James W. White, Jr. and Bruce E. Parcell; her sister, Delores Livingston; and her brother, Gary Nicholson.

Joan is survived by her son, Steven White; five daughters, Lori Hoskins (Kevin); Kim Gibson (Ben); Valerie Werner (Wade); Kelly White (Ray); Traci Cory (Jason); her sisters, Marlene Madden and Janet Schreck, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, other loving family members and countless longtime friends.

 Funeral Services: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 16, 2017, with visitation following until 8:30 p.m. at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home in Smithville, MO

Burial: 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2017, at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation in honor of her granddaughter, Natasha Knight (https://www.dystonia-foundation.org/donate or (800)377-3978)