Cleone White

Cleone Ann (Stoltz) White passed away Saturday, March 9, 2024 at her home in Baker City, she was 88 years old.

Cleone was born in Greencreek, ID to parents Albert and Pauline Stolz.  She was raised in Grangeville, ID and was the oldest of 2 sisters and 3 brothers. 

Cleone pursued a life of service as a nun at St. Gertrude's Monastery in Cottonwood, ID, where she became known as Sister Theodora.  She attended the College of St. Gertrude's from 1952-1954 where she earned her teaching degree.  She adored teaching and taught all over Idaho until the spring of 1966 when she chose to go to Bogota, Columbia. There she taught at an orphanage and remote village until the fall of 1968.  After returning home, she began the process Exclaustration in 1969 with her final Dispensation on September 29, 1973.

Cleone married Jarvis White June 15, 1974 in Portland, OR and had a beautiful relationship filled with travel, adventure and giraffes.  Jarvis gave Cleon a set of giraffe earrings, and that started a 45-year collection of giraffes.

They went overseas after she retired as a teacher, visiting Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, where Jarvis fell in love with the Macaque monkeys.   They would spend one week on the Oregon coast every year. They loved to spend their time reading as they listened to the surf, eating the good food that our coast has to offer. She would crochet an entire afghan blanket during that week.

Crochet was her favorite hobby and she donated most of her projects to friends, family and Veterans.

After Jarvis passed away in 2019, she moved to Eastern Oregon to be closer to family.

Cleone was very active in contributing her time, energy, and money to various organizations.  She was most interested in making sure our returning military had help, so she donated to the US Freedom Fund, The Wounded Warriors Project, Habitat for Humanity, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, and the Homeless Veterans Fund.  She also contributed to the ADK-CHI, MADD, Sioux Nation Relief Fund and many other varied organizations.

Cleone was preceded in death by her parents Albert A. Stolz (1906-2000) Pauline Ross Stolz (1914-2002); all of her siblings Laverne E Stolz (1937-2001), Valetta M Baron (1938-2005), Wayne A Stolz (1939-2017), Clarisse H. Austin (1941-2018), Glenn F. Stolz (1944-2009).

She is survived by stepson, Jim White; daughter in law Elsa (Chris) White of Baker City; grandkids: Jesse White, CA, Jason White, Jullian Henshaw, Robert (Bobby) Henshaw of Baker of Baker City, OR; Tom White of Caldwell, ID, Alden White and Amber White of Portland, OR; Nike Bentley of Roseburg, OR, City, OR and many great grandchildren; sister-in-law Jan Stolz of Sand Point, ID and her cousin Linda Key of Grangeville, ID.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Cleone the family suggests St. Gertrude's Monastery  through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com