Nelson Eugene "Gene" White Sr.'s Obituary
Nelson Eugene "Gene" White Sr., 87, a lifelong Fort Myers, Florida resident passed away Thursday, January 4, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 7, 1936 at Arcadia General Hospital, Arcadia, Florida to the late Chancey "CW" and Jewel White. He was a 52 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was a 65 year member of Tropical Lodge 56 F & AM, where he was a 33rd Degree Mason in Scottish Rite for 42 years. For years, he was a past personal representative in the Valley of Fort Myers of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Florida. Gene was a DeMolay advisor for 20 years, as well as serving for over 20 years on the advisory board of the Rainbow For Girls. Gene was awarded the highest honor of the Grand Cross of Color for his many years of dedicated service in Rainbow.
Gene is survived by his four children, Leanne White Plano of Fort Myers, Eugene White Jr. or Fort Myers, Sarah White Taylor (Thomas) of Fort Myers, Mary Jewel White (David Prather) of St. Petersburg, FL; one brother Richard C. White of NC; Six granddaughters, Andraea Fuller (James), Maxie Martinez, Lauren Leone (Brett), Brittany Gaddie (Chad), Danielle Simmons (Robert), Christina Martinez; nine great grandchildren, Phillip, Dominic, Damon, James, Benjamin, Theodore, Paislee, Evangeline, and Della; as well as many extended family members, cherished nurses and wonderful friends.
In 1968, Gene became owner of White Furniture Company which was established in 1948 and where he had worked with his parents since high school. He traveled the world extensively in his lifetime. His love was all-things-Disney where he held an annual pass and Donald Duck was his favorite.
Gene had great knowledge of the history of the Fort Myers area having been a local his entire life and loved to recount how Fort Myers used to be. He loved to tell everybody about his travels. He collected stamps and Disney memorabilia and his stock contained thousands of animated pins and other keepsakes. If he was "lost," we knew he was up at Disney trading pins. His youngest got him hooked on coloring on his phone in the Happy Color App. He has hundreds of colored pictures saved and showed them to everyone.
Gene's Visitation is Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11:00 AM and his Funeral Service will be celebrated immediately thereafter at 12:00 Noon inside the Chapel at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555. At the conclusion of these services, family and guests will recess to adjacent Memorial Gardens Cemetery where Gene will be laid to rest alongside his dearly departed wife Sarah Ann White at the Mausoleum located inside the Garden of Serenity. All in attendance at the committal service in the Cemetery are welcome to take part in a special tribute for Gene which spotlights his love for all-things-Disney.
In lieu of flowers, the family instead suggests that contributions in his memory be directed to: Tropical Lodge No. 56 Building Fund, P.O. Box 60069, Fort Myers, FL 33906-6069, or to the Masonic Home of Florida by visiting their website at: www.masonichomefl.com/giving/
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33907, (239) 936-0555. To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family, please visit Gene's memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.
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