Don White

Don Duane White passed from this earthly life to his eternal home at 12:33 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at Claremore, OK. He died peacefully, in his sleep, while listening to his much loved Country and Western music on his MP3.

Born Jan. 9, 1928 to Ruby Eugenia (Paine) White and Don Stanley White, Don helped his parents on the farm until he turned 13 when he moved to Oklahoma City. He lived with his Aunt and Uncle, Thelma and Leo Paine until joining the Army where he served in the Signal Corp, Regular Army from Nov. 7, 1945 through March 20, 1947 when he was honorably discharged. Following his discharge Don helped his aunt and uncle run their dairy farm in Union City and attended barber school on the GI Bill ultimately opening his own barber shop in Yukon, OK.

Don married the love of his life, Shirley C. Hedrick on July 3, 1950 in Ft. Worth, TX. They lived in OKC prior to moving to Yukon in 1955 where they bought their first home and opened the MidWay Barber Shop where Don barbered for over 65 years. They raised daughters: Donna, Pamela and Christy in Yukon until 1962 when they moved to the rural township of Banner.

Don is survived by his wife of 72 years, Shirley C. (Hedrick) White and their daughters Pam McDaniel and husband Neldon of Yukon, OK and Donna (White) Heldermon and husband Ray of Claremore, OK; his sisters: Juanita Selvedge of Oklahoma City, Loretta Raines of Guthrie, Shirley Dyer of Claremore, and Audrey Blakely of LaPine, OR.

Also surviving Don are his many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren: Grandchildren: Coy Heldermon of Gainesville, FL; Tera Kerr and husband Clark of Yukon, OK; Clifford McDaniel of Yukon, OK and Katy Gould and husband Adam of Waynesville, NC; Great Grandchildren: Sage and Casey Kerr of Yukon; Brittney Woodring of Kingfisher; Tava and Austin McDaniel of OKC; Emma and Ezra Heldermon of Gainesville, FL and Elizabeth Gould of Waynesville, NC; Great-great Grandchildren: Gabriel, Eli and Layla Kerr of Yukon and Paisley and Knox McDaniel of Oklahoma City. He is also lovingly survived by his many family members-in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and the many friends and barber patrons who loved Don’s sense of humor and optimistic attitude. Daughter Christy (White) McLean pre-deceased her father in 2020.

A life well-lived, Don loved family and family gatherings, camping, fishing, hunting, Western Swing dancing and listening to his favorite Country and Western music. A ‘jack of all trades,' Don never met a problem he wouldn’t give a whirl at solving, many times with great humor. He was always ready to help a neighbor or someone in need as much as he was able, never forgetting his hard life roots. He never met a joke he didn’t like and he gleefully shared them with family and friends alike. A hero to his wife and daughters, he was the fun and doting grandparent to his grandchildren, teaching all to not take life too seriously and to take time to enjoy the life gifted them by their Creator.

It is with sadness we lose him to this earthly life, but with joy we will meet him again in his eternal life spent with the Lord of his nightly prayers. Rest In Peace, Dad. We love you deeply and will miss you greatly.

Love,

Your wife and daughters, Shirley, Donna, Pam & Christy.