John White

John Randall White, known endearingly as "Johntoh or Juan" to his brothers, passed away on November 1, 2025 of natural causes. Born on May 19, 1945, in Wichita Falls, Texas, John grew up in Westchester, California, graduating from Westchester High School in 1963. John attained the rank of Eagle Scout and served a successful LDS mission to Northern Mexico. He often received compliments from native speakers on his fluency with no detectable accent. Even with cognitive decline, where some words failed him, he could respond easily with Spanish.

John was charismatic and made friends wherever he went. His sharp wit, as an intellectual conversationalist made him an unforgettable presence in any room. A lover of good jokes, John's laughter was the best kind – the kind that filled a room and garnered even more jokes.

He earned a bachelor's degree in business management from BYU in Provo, Utah. His roommate introduced him to Carol Ann Bastian, and they married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 28, 1970. He was drafted to the US Army for the Vietnam war although he did not pass the medical inspection. They lived in Twin Falls, Idaho in the early years, moved to Vancouver, Washington from 1976-1980, and moved back to Kimberly, Idaho. They share 4 children, Alisa, Shannon, Joel and Andrew (Doobie), and divorced in 1985.

He moved to Mesa, Arizona and later married Kari Crandall which included her 4 children, Tyson, Kaci, Tanner and Tucker Crandall. When they divorced, he devoted his time to caring for his mother, Sally. He had a knee replacement in 2016 and never fully recovered cognitively from the anesthesia and was unable to return to an active lifestyle. John's children wish to extend our gratitude to John's brothers and their wives, for providing care and comfort to John throughout his life and especially to Pete who managed dad's medical appointments, transportation, and living arrangements and day-to-day care for many years, and served his brother with a happy heart. John fell in 2021 and ended up with a hip replacement that limited the use of his legs and he needed 24- hour overcare, so he took residence at Legacy Retirement in Mesa, Arizona. He remained there and until he moved to Ogden, Utah in 2025, Pete was his regular visitor and together they shared football, tv gameshows and frozen treats.

The family would also like to express gratitude to the friends and multiple CNAs, nurses, doctors and staff in Arizona and Utah who provided their best care for John.

John held multiple occupations, most notably, he served as an LDS seminary instructor, managed a chain of flower shops and enjoyed traveling in his role as a Sales Logix software instructor, teaching with a mix of humor, charm, and deep knowledge that kept his students engaged and eager to learn.

John enjoyed social events and was the master planner of many singles outings and dances in the Mesa, Arizona region. He could carry a tune and play a few songs on the piano. He was a gentleman, well-dressed down to his wallet and watch, with a love for the fine arts, stimulating conversations, and a bustling social calendar. He was an incredible teacher, an eloquent writer, and a lover of fast cars, music, and movies paired with cookies and ice cream. A tech enthusiast, he strived to remain up to date with the latest technology, right from the first computer, the Commodore 64, to the newest gadgets of today.

John's life was a testament to his love for his family and his faith. He would light up at family events, making it a point to be present at all important occasions. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday, a time when he could surround himself with loved ones and indulge in good food, laughter, and stories. Despite the challenges life threw his way, John demonstrated grace, strength and optimism, even in his respite, he was cheerful and interested in others and brought joy to many residents.

John is survived by his children, Alisa (Jay)Tilley and grandsons, Bastian and Zachary, Shannon Edwards (Justin Pocock) and granddaughter Brennon, and grandsons Gunnar, Jaeger and Lochlainn, Joel White and grandson Leo-Paul, and Andrew White (Janet Schmidt) and granddaughters Olive and Lilla, and his brothers Peter (and Lynne) White, James (and Glenna Rae) White, and David White, and his beloved nieces and nephews and their families. John was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Sarah White.

A viewing will be held at Myers Mortuary in Roy, Utah, on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 9:30 am MST, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am MST. The dedication of the grave will be at Washington Heights Memorial Park, Ogden, Utah, at 1:00 pm MST, followed by a luncheon with location TBA.

We encourage those who knew John to share their memories and upload photos to his memorial page, as we celebrate the life of our father, brother, and friend together.