Lydia Belle White

1928 - 2017

Our beloved mother, Lydia Belle White, passed peacefully from this life on January 9, 2017, two days after her 89th birthday. Her "sweetheart", James W. White, of 54 years was waiting for her on the other side. She was also preceded in death by her infant daughter Charolette Neva, her grandson David Theodore Janson, her parents August and Dorsie Matthews, her brothers Robert and Revis Matthews and her sisters Imogene Shenkel and Maxine Lake. She leaves behind four children to remember and honor her: DeWayne (Llanda) Johnston, Joseph (Patti) Johnston, Darlene (Ted) Janson and James (Dee) White. Nine grandchildren will also treasure her memory: Nathan and Zakary Johnston, Joseph Johnston, Kimberly Wood, Sarah Johnston, Rebekah Harris, Elizabeth Baker, and Sierra and James White as well as twenty-one great grandchildren all of whom she loved very much. She also leaves behind her brother Galen (Zeek) Matthews and her sister Sarah (Sally) King of Owasso, Oklahoma and an abundance of nieces and nephews. Mom was born in Fairland, Oklahoma in 1928, the fifth of seven children. She moved to California at age fourteen to live with her sister Imogene. Her parents and five of her siblings also relocated to sunny California. She met and married Jim while working at McClellan AFB and soon enjoyed the privilege of staying home and raising her children. When the children where older she went to work for Blue Diamond Almond Growers and after 27 years and many friendships she retired to spend her time singing in the Golden Tones, going to the Carmichael Senior Citizens Club where she was treasurer for 17 years, shopping and spend-ing time with her family. Mom enjoyed going to the Old Time Fiddlers and Western Swing, her monthly luncheon with the "almond grower ladies" and lending a helping hand to those who needed one. Her blue Irish eyes are closed in rest now and her "natural" red hair a memory, but her legacy of love and caring will live on in the lives of those she leaves behind. Thanks Mom for everything. We will miss you. A brief inurnment service will be held at Calvary Cemetery, 7101 Verner Ave on February 11th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Research Hospital or KVIE Public Television.