Addie Mae White

On Friday, 8 December 2017, at the age of 82, our radiantly beautiful mother took flight with God’s Angels into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and reunited with the love of her life. She is now safely home. No more pain or suffering. At the time of her death, Addie Mae (McKee) White was a resident of Arbor House in Marble Falls, TX to be nearer her daughters, but called Houston, TX her “home. “ Although her husband’s career would take her as far west as the San Francisco Bay Area, as far east as Cincinnati, OH and Potomac, MD, and as far south as Caracas, Venezuela, as a 6th generation Texan, Texas was her home. And she was proud of it!

Born to George Sylvester “G.S.” and Willie Dee (Ellison) McKee on 21 March 1935 in Brady, TX, the family relocated to Galveston, TX in 1941 where Addie Mae excelled academically, dedicated her life to Jesus at Broadway Baptist Church, was an accomplished pianist and vocalist at her church, and a proud graduate of Ball High School, Class of 1953.

Addie Mae married her beloved, Oswald “Ozzie” Harding White, on 25 January 1958 at First Baptist Church, Texas City, TX and was happily married for 31 years, until Ozzie’s early death in 1989. Although Addie Mae enjoyed early careers in finance and administration, while still a newlywed, a near-fatal accident as a pedestrian took pause in career. However, her most treasured accomplishments were as wife and mother. Two daughters were born to the couple ~ Lauri Lynn, born in Beaumont, TX and Kelly Anne, born in Oakland, CA.

How do you properly pay tribute to a personality and life lived in brilliant color when shared only in black and white? Addie Mae was multi-faceted and known by her family and friends in a variety of ways. She was a devoted homemaker and amazing cook, social butterfly, Southern Belle, but likewise, a feisty southern gal. Addie Mae was a trailblazer, life of the party, our matriarch, a natural at decorating, artist, fashion model, pianist, trend-setter, prayer warrior, competitive, hilarious, complimentary of others, an expat’s wife, and to her devoted husband, “the most beautiful woman in the world.”

While engaged to Ozzie, Addie Mae was an “Aggie Sweetheart.” She was incredibly proud of him in his engineering career with Bechtel and enjoyed her association with the “Bechtel Wives Club.” She was a Brownie troop leader in Houston. As a young widow in search of a place to fit in church, Addie Mae pioneered a grief support group for widows and widowers at her beloved Second Baptist Church- Woodway. She named it, “Movin’ On” and led the group for 9 years. Addie Mae was an enthusiastic member and chaplain of the Village Republican Women’s Association. She led a care ministry to help keep her Ball High classmates abreast of joys and sorrows within their close-knit group. These are only highlights and in addition to many volunteer and paid positions throughout her life.

Addie Mae loved her daughters, was proud and appreciative, and knew them till the end of her life. However, her boast and joy were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those gone before Addie Mae, and to welcome her home, is her husband, Ozzie, her parents, G.S. and Willie Dee McKee, only sibling, Billy Jack “B.J.” McKee, who predeceased his younger sister 5 months prior, her step-grandson, Jason Ramsey, and countless extended family members and treasured friends.

Till the reunion in heaven one day, left behind to miss her are her devoted daughters and their families, Lauri White Ramsey and husband, James, of Llano, TX; Kelly White Trapane and husband, John, of Highland Haven, TX. Known as “Grande” by her grandchildren, Dustin Gray and wife, Ashley, of Kingwood, TX; Taylor Gray of Austin, TX; Liam Trapane and Faith Trapane of Highland Haven, TX; great-grandsons, Keegan and Oliver Gray of Kingwood, TX. Additionally, “Grande” embraced step-grandchildren, Gail Ramsey, of San Antonio, TX and Will Ramsey, of San Marcos, TX, when they joined the family in 2004. Extended family members, and numerous friends, will sorely miss Addie Mae.

On Saturday, 16 December 2017, the family welcomes family and friends to Visitation at 9 AM in the chapel of Memorial Oaks Funeral Home ~ 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079. A Celebration of Life for Addie Mae (McKee) White will be held at 10 AM with internment immediately following in Memorial Oaks Cemetery. Pallbearers are: Dustin Gray, Taylor Gray, Liam Trapane, Will Ramsey, James Ramsey and John Trapane. The service will be officiated by Ryan Forester, Second Baptist Church-West, Pastor.

For those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family suggests consideration for an association related to dementia, or charity of your choice. http://teepasnow.com/resources/dementia-specific-organizations/

As the family has been directly impacted by dementia for three generations, they have a passion to educate and cure a disease feared, misunderstood and now epidemic.