Marilyn White

Marilyn R. White, 89, passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Marilyn was born June 30, 1927, in New Orleans, La., to Earl and Ethel Rees. She was educated in the New Orleans public school system and, in 1943, enrolled at Southwestern Louisiana University in Lafayette, La. Earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education she returned to New Orleans to teach the orchestra program at McDonogh High School.

On August 25, 1945, she married William Lessley White of Carencro, La., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in New Orleans. She and her husband each earned Master's Degrees in music education from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Marilyn was very active in music and theater in the schools and communities in which she worked and lived. She played in the Shreveport, La., symphony orchestra, the El Paso, Texas, symphony orchestra and the orchestras and string ensembles at both universities. In 1978 she completed her Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming.

Working in the field of education for over fifty years she was certified in Louisiana, Texas and Wyoming. She taught in the areas of Elementary Education, secondary English, music, art and Special Education. Appointed to the Special Education Faculty at the University of Wyoming in 1973, she taught special education and curriculum courses until 1976 when she accepted a position with Johnson County School District No. 1 as Director of Special Education in Buffalo, Wyo. She also worked as an education administrator for various school districts in Wyoming and served as a consultant for the Wyoming State Department of Education primarily in the field of special education. She worked as a private educational consultant until her retirement in 2001.

Marilyn is survived by two daughters, Jocelyn (Ron) Jurovich of Thermopolis and Rosalyn (Randy) Kinne of LaPorte, Colo; and granddaughter, Ashley Jurovich of Thermopolis, Wyo. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, William; parents; sister, Dr. Jocelyn Rees and brother, Earl Gerard Rees.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Father Randy Oswald and Father Pete Johnson at St. Francis Church on February 13. Burial followed at Monument Hill Cemetery. A vigil service was held Sunday evening at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. John the Baptist Foundation, 532 N. Lobban, Buffalo, WY 82834 or the Worland Healthcare and Rehab Center, Activities Dept., 1901 Howell, Worland 82401.

Mortimore Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.