White

Mary Etta White, 79, of Clay Township, Butler, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, at Butler Memorial Hospital with family at her side.

She was born on Nov. 12, 1942, in Mercer, to Mary Margaret (Connell) Furey and Raymond Lamont Furey. She graduated from Mercer High School in 1960.

Mary Etta married Forrest Madison White on July 15, 1960.

She, along with Forrest, co-owned Excel Television on West Jefferson Street in Butler in the 1970s and 1980s. She worked for the Butler County Children’s Center, Sears Product Services, and Dr. Garcia. She enjoyed working with students, and retired as a paraprofessional for Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City in 2005. She also worked as an antique dealer and owned Whitehouse Collectibles.

She was a charter member of Christ Community United Methodist Church in Butler, where she was a 48+ year choir member. She served as church council secretary and mission team member for many years. Mary Etta was communications chairman of the church, served on the church council, and was a lay leader. She was coordinator of the church food cupboard and community work teams.

She was very active in car events in the area. She and Forrest helped organize what is now the Butler Fall Festival Car Show. They started the first car show at the Slippery Rock Heritage Days. She was secretary and historian of the Butler Old Stone House Region of the Antique Auto Club of America (AACA) for many years, and was their first woman co-show chairman and first woman president. Within that organization, she and Forrest were part of a group entrusted with the care of three Butler built cars, “The Standard” and “Huselton” and “The Bantam Jeep.”

She and Forrest belonged to the Antique Automobile Club of America, Packard Automobile Club, Studebaker Drivers Club, Keystone Packards, and Allegheny Packards Club. Mary Etta was also an auxiliary member of Butler Hospital.

She and Forrest loved to ride their Harley motorcycle.

In addition to her husband, Forrest, she is survived by a son, Jeff and her daughter-in-law, Cindy White, of Boyers; and her grandson, Austin and his wife, Sarah, of Altoona.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Leroy; and two infant granddaughters.

WHITE — The family of Mary Etta White, who died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, will observe a public memorial service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept 11, 2022, at Christ Community United Methodist Church, 205 Duffy Road, Butler.

A small private gathering for family members only will be held at SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Christ Community United Methodist Church, or the Old Stone House Region AACA Huselton and Standard Preservation Fund, c/o Treasurer Douglas Dawes, 116 Silver Drive, Renfrew, PA 16053.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.