Ina Jean Childers White was born in Noble, Oklahoma to parents Roscoe and Lois (Evans) Childers. Her
father worked various jobs in the oil industry which kept the family moving across Oklahoma, Illinois,
and Texas. Her mother had the tougher job of keeping the home and raising five children. As the oldest,
Jean developed her amazing nurturing and caregiving skills at an early age by helping with her siblings.
After she graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1953, she met her future husband, Bill, at University
Baptist Church in Tulsa. He invited her to a church picnic, and they were married a year later in 1955.
Jean studied at Southern Methodist University where she completed a special secretarial program. Early
in her marriage, she worked as an executive secretary to executives in the military. As her kids got older,
she went back to work for Mary Ann Faust (attorney) in Houston, with whom she developed a lifelong
friendship.
Bill and Jean raised five children, moving many times courtesy of the oil and gas industry – Tulsa,
Williamsburg, Dallas, Amarillo, Denver, Glen Rock (NJ) and finally Houston, where they lived for the past
52 years. They lovingly built a life filled with friends, family, church, bridge, sport activities (Bill’s and the
kids’ teams, the Astros, Rockets, Oilers and Texans), travel, volunteering and time at their lake house on
Lake Conroe. At the time of Bill’s passing in 2020, they had been married over 64 years.
Jean was such a sweet spirit and those who knew her loved her. She always had a soft spot for the
babies and loved being involved with her children and grandchildren. She also knew how to keep her
children in line at church with one glance over her glasses. As someone who was always generous with
her time and talents, Jean served as a Girl Scout troop leader, Cub Scouts Den Mother, Sunday school
teacher, member of the teller committee at Tallowood Baptist Church and many other volunteer
positions. She greatly enjoyed teaching and participating in her ladies Bible study group, from which
grew many close friendships. She was also a great cook and loved feeding people. After the loss of her
son, she was very generous in sitting with others in their grief and sharing her story. Her deep love of
Jesus Christ was the reason for her love of people and the ways she served.
Jean is survived by her daughters Janice Sikes (Austin), Paula Mousighi (Houston) and Catherine White
(Burbank, CA); her siblings Aliene (Bill) Austin, Andy (Donna) Childers, Martha Ann Lee and Gwen
Trenary; grandchildren Andrea, Amelia (Michael), Amanda (Kelvin), Megan (Justin) and Cameron; greatgrandsons
Landon, Liam, Kayden and one great grandson, Thomas, whom the family is looking forward
to meeting in August. She is predeceased by her husband, Bill, daughter Lois White, son Tony White and
her parents.
Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 15th, 5:30-7:30 pm. The
memorial service will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, June 16th at Tallowood Baptist Church. Please
consider a donation in memory of Jean to Boys & Girls Country, 18806 Roberts Rd, Hockley, TX 77447
(281) 351-4976 https://boysandgirlscountry.org/ or to Tallowood Baptist Church.
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