J. "Gar" Gardner White

John Gardner White (Gar) was born May 12, 1934 in Seattle, Washington.  He died shortly after his 82nd birthday on May 29, 2016 in Portland, Oregon.  He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Arleta (Blake) White, and their two children, Jerry White and Jean Anne Craton.  During Gar's life he was also blessed with eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Gar loved the outdoors and passed that love on to his family by taking them camping and on regular day trips to Oregon's coast, parks, lakes and rivers.  He was known to get into the water for a "Polar Bear" swim when everyone else was content to stay warm and dry.  Gar drove his children crazy with his passion for photography, but it was passed on to both of them none the less.  Christmas would not have been complete without Gar's countless hours invested in decorating the Christmas tree. Hobbies Gar enjoyed included rock, coin and stamp collecting.  He also spent a large portion of his life working on the genealogy of his and his wife's family.

Fond childhood memories from Jerry and Jean Anne include trips to the cabin in Welches, Oregon, skipping rocks, playing games and singing on long car trips.  Gar's children, along with cousins, friends and babysitting kids spent their childhood playing in the sandbox and on the swing set he designed and built.  Gar was a coach for Jerry's Little League team and scout master for many years for Jerry's scout troop.  He taught Jean Anne ballroom dancing, how to harmonize when singing endless camp songs in the car and was always interested and involved in her sewing projects.

In the community, Gar spent many years pouring his life into young men and women in the Junior Achievement program.  While serving as scout master for the Boy Scouts he helped many scouts on their path of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.  The Sertoma Club and Meals on Wheels were additional examples of Gar's humble commitment to his community.

Lesser known facts about Gar: Played the trumpet and bugle.  Performed in musicals.  Taught ballroom dancing.  Enjoyed water skiing.  Played and coached competitive tennis.  Attended drum and bugle corps competitions.  Loved salt-water taffy, as long as it didn't have peanuts!  Served a delicious lamb shish-kebab.  Listened to jazz music.  Patiently worked on puzzles and knot tying.

Gar has been described as intelligent and extremely patient by his family and friends.  He leaves behind a legacy of working with youth to not only achieve life-worthy goals but to also give back to the community.

To end with a chuckle: When Gar's wife was asked to share a memory of something he was known to regularly do she recalled that he would ask obscure, unanswerable questions, to which she would respond, "Who cares?"  Some of us may have thought the same thing but only by being faithfully and sacrificially by his side for 55 years do you earn the right to answer so bluntly.

Private services have already been held.  Memorial contributions may be made to the local Boy Scouts Council to provide camp scholarships at cpcbsa.org/memorial-tributes or mailed to CPCBSA, 2145 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, Oregon 97201.  Please note "In memory of Gar White" on the memo line.