Espy Jearl White

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Espy Jearl White, who left us on March 19, 2026, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Jearl was born on May 12, 1954, in Graceville, Florida, to Espy W. White and Mattie Rae Cook. He was the youngest brother to four sisters: Nelly, Betty Jean, Ruby, and Mary Francis.

Jearl, as he was known to all, grew up in Rifle Range, Florida, and graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1972. Before pursuing a career as an electrician, Jearl worked at Scotty's, and later attended an electrical journeyman school. His first job as an electrician was with Krieger, and in the late 80s, he began working at Walt Disney World, where he retired in 2017 as a supervisor at Epcot.

In his younger years, Jearl was the life of the party, always bringing energy and excitement to any gathering. He had a deep love for the outdoors, enjoying water skiing, hunting, fishing, hiking, and running. Some of his greatest accomplishments include hiking the Appalachian Trail with Justin and Jared Smith, winning first place in the 51-60 age group of the Monster Challenge at the age of 60, and competing in Tough Mudder events with his son, Charles. Jearl completed many marathons, including the Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K in 1986. He also shared many adventures with his wife Julie, including offshore fishing, always competing to catch the biggest fish.

Jearl had a natural talent for working with his hands, from carpentry to building his own airboat. If there was a sunny day, you could bet he was out riding his motorcycle. He was a fan of the Old West and admired the cowboy way, often watching westerns and reading books by his favorite author, Louis L'Amour.

A dedicated family man, Jearl was always there to help his family and friends. He cherished time spent with his sisters and made efforts to get together whenever possible. He was a loving father to Charles and Jennifer, sharing fond memories of sailing trips with Charles, and always referred to Jennifer as his "baby girl." Jearl also welcomed Krista, his wife Julie's daughter, into the family with open arms, enjoying riding motorcycles and making lasting memories with her. His love for his grandchildren, Jackson and Lila, was evident in his time spent in Sarasota, and he would visit Indiana to water ski with his grandkids, Macy and Mylee on their family speedboat. He also loved family gatherings and cherished time spent with his nieces and nephews, no matter the distance. Jearl was a patient teacher, sharing his skills with his grandchildren, especially teaching them how to shoot-except for Lila, who wasn't having it.

Jearl's friends were considered family, and he shared countless stories from his favorite motorcycle events at Roscoe's and Leesburg, as well as muddy trail adventures at River Ranch. His zest for life, his warm heart, and his willingness to help others left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Jearl is survived by his loving wife, Julie White; his son Charles (Dorrie) White and their children, Chandler and Jack; his daughter Jennifer (Jae) Shin and their children, Kaley, Jackson, and Lila; his daughter Krista (Jared) Smith and their children, Macy and Mylee Smith; his sister Betty Jean; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. We invite you to leave pictures and cherished memories on this page to honor the life of an extraordinary man. Jearl will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege to know him. He truly was a blessing, and his memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.