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Mary Esther Viar White Esther White passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the age of 106. Esther, as everyone called her, was born on March 26, 1914 to the late Isaac and Cordelia Viar of Roane County, Tennessee. After graduating from Loudon High School she entered nursing school and then worked as a nurse for 5 years. In 1936 Esther met and married William R. (Bill) White and moved to Madisonville, Tennessee, where she lived for 72 years. To this union were born two children, Frieda Gay White Cowling and David Viar White. Esther was a member of Madisonville First Baptist Church for 72 years, where she was a member of the choir for 65 years, served as a Sunday school teacher for 28 years, and was active in the Woman’s Missionary Union for many years. She worked as a nurse in the McGuire Clinic in Madisonville for 20 years, was a charter member of both the Madisonville Garden Club and Home Demonstration Club, and served as a volunteer in Monroe County Elections for 20 years. After 40 years of marriage, Mrs. White was preceded in death by her dearly beloved husband Bill. Esther had two brothers and three sisters, all lifelong Tennessee residents: Robert Viar of Roane County, Arch Viar of Erie, Vena Bluford of Decatur, Ida Francis of Rockwood, and Elsie Thompson of Knoxville. All have preceded her in death. Esther is survived by son David Viar White of Wear’s Valley, Tennessee, and daughter Frieda Cowling of Schererville, Indiana (as well as Frieda’s loving husband Pete, who extended his love fully to his grateful mother-in-law). There are four grandchildren, and in order of their birth, along with their spouses, they are Kelly and Rafael Cervantes of Crown Point, Indiana; Kevin and Dawn Cowling of Mesa, Arizona; Krysten and Chris Vestal of Oregon City, Oregon; and Keith and Michelle Cowling of Crown Point, Indiana. The extended family now includes fourteen great grandchildren and four recently added spouses: Kelly and Rafael’s sons Sam, Simon, and Stephen (and Stephen’s spouse Amatista); Kevin and Dawn’s children Ashley, Trent, Trey, and Trevor (as well Ashley’s husband Matt Yancy and Trevor’s wife Breanna); Krysten and Chris’s children Karissa, Wesley, Ryan, and Derek (and Derek’s wife Rebekah); and Keith and Michelle’s children David, Pete, and Joe (and David’s new wife Brittany). The funeral will be a graveside service at Sunset Cemetery in Madisonville, Tennessee at 8:00 AM on Friday, July 24, 2020. It will be organized by Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, with an opening prayer by Chris Moore, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Madisonville. Comments and eulogies will be given by Frieda Cowling, David White, Kelly Cervantes, Pastor Kevin Cowling of the Valley Baptist Church of Mesa, Arizona, Krysten Vestal, and Pastor Keith Cowling of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. Music will be played and sung by Krysten and Chris Vestal, and will include, at Esther’s request, “In a Land Where We’ll Never Grow Old” and “I Will Meet You in the Morning.” In addition to family, Esther is survived by, as well as preceded in death by many, many friends. During her long life she helped, listened to, cared for, and got to know hundreds of people who she loved dearly, and who came to love her. She was a very special person, quick to bring a smile to any situation with a funny image or story, even in her last years. Having grown up on a farm that was almost completely self-sufficient, she learned to do almost everything it took to fix, grow, clean, and decorate anything at all by herself. She was a uniquely self-sufficient woman who also had a flair for artistic creations with flowers and crafts of many kinds. She loved flowers and was always surrounded by them in her numerous garden beds. She was a devout Christian, reading through the Bible many, many times – always trying to bring her life into harmony with the love, kindness, and generosity of spirit taught there. We honor all that she brought to each of us, and the blessings she bestowed on our lives. Her lively and caring spirit will be deeply missed.

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Mary Esther White

March 26, 1914 - July 18, 2020