Curtis F. White, Jr., life-long Lamont/St. John area farmer, passed away May 31, 2017 at Whitman Hospital in Colfax. He was 86. Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 16, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Christian Life Assembly Church in St. John with a reception following. A graveside service will precede at 10:00 a.m. in the St. John Cemetery. Curtis was born on the family farm near Ewan on December 19, 1930. He was the sixth of seven children to be born to Curtis "Frank" and Nellie (Myott) White. His early years were on the farm at Ewan and then the family moved to the half-moon prairie just north of Chattaroy. Curtis attended and graduated from Riverside High School near there. He was a talented athlete and played on the school baseball and basketball teams. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force just as World War II had ended. He served three years in Germany where he specialized as a flight controller. He was an expert marksman and was a member of the "All European Rifle Team" while in Germany. He was honorably discharged and returned home to Whitman County. He married Lorraine Cook in Sprague, Washington on July 9, 1955. They made their home on the farm near Lamont. Curtis and Lorraine farmed together their entire life and raised a family of three children on the farm. In addition to grain, the Whites were well known for their registered black angus. Curtis was named "Farmer of the Year in 1966" and the following year, 1967, was named "Cattleman of the Year". He was always an honest, hard-worker and made time to give back to his community as well with service on the boards of the Palouse-Rock Lake Soil Conservation Board, the Federal Land Bank Board, Production Credit Board and the Palouse Empire Fair Board. He was also a longtime member of the Lamont Grange. Curtis was a member of the Sprague Gun Club and was an expert trap-shooter. He ranked 7th in the nation overall and at one time was ranked 2nd in Washington State for shooting trap. When an injury damaged the eyesight in one of his eyes he was forced to learn to shoot left handed and could still compete with the best of them. He loved hunting, fishing and boating. He and Lorraine moved into St. John in 1986. Following retirement, Curtis learned to golf and even became a greens keeper at the St. John Golf & Country Club. He also coached the St. John High School Golf Team. He was a proud father and grandfather and enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren with all of their activities. Lorraine and Curtis moved to the Community Pride in 2010 and sadly his wife of 56 years, Lorraine, passed away May 22, 2012. Curtis is survived by his three children; Denise (Kim) Flores of Olympia, WA, Gil (Cindy) White of Lamont and David (Diane) White of St. John; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his 5 brothers and 1 sister. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the St. John Volunteer Fire Department. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is in charge of the arrangements.