Lucretia M. White (nee York), 93 years old, passed from this life Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.
She was the beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many. She was preceded in death by parents, Roscoe A. and Louise York; and sisters, Alberta Correl and Dorothy Webb. She is survived by sister, Joan Jacobs, and her children Connie Smith, Steve Collins (Kay), Alicia Thomas (Eddie) and Tamara Iler; grandchildren, Ricky Smith (Michelle), Deanna Smith, Bobby Smith (Shannon), Steven Collins (Kimberly), Michael Collins, Timothy Collins, Kristopher Collins (Amanda), Geoffrey Collins, Jessica Thomas (Chase), Samuel Thomas and Andrea Iler-Kile; great-grandchildren, Cretia Smith, Kenny Smith, R.J. Smith, Kyra Smith, Erik Collins, Anthony Collins, Lily Collins, Matthew Collins, Keven Collins, Elliot Lepard, Nicholas Iler and Addison McNabb; and great-great-grandchildren, Greyson Smith and Jacob Logan.
Lu was born in West Plains, Nov. 2, 1930. She was so intelligent that she graduated from high school at the age of 14 years and went on to a secretarial school for a year. She then was married at the age of 16 years to a man 10 years her senior. She would have two children, then divorce and marry again and have two more children. She would marry and divorce twice more before settling for three crazy cats. She was a matriarch, caring for her husbands, parents, children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and step-children. Lu worked for Southwestern Bell in St. Louis for 20 years and retired to Cannan, then sold real estate for several years in the Owensville area until purchasing the bar she called “Lu’s Down Home Place.” She ran this business for several years before again retiring in Belle. Lu was also a 30-year breast cancer survivor.
She loved her family, enjoyed music, reading, art and sewing. She was an active member of the “Full Moon Society” for many years. She was known for having large and small family dinners and get-togethers with bar-b-que, fishing in the pond, bonfires, roasted marshmallows, and guitar music by the fire. She will be loved and missed by all who knew her.
Cremation is under the direction of Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, with plans for a private family memorial at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in Lucretia’s name to the American Cancer Society at https://donate.cancer or the Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org.
