Lillian White

Lillian Elaine White passed away Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2016, at the home she loved, Muleshoe Ranch, Durango. That was her wish. She was 83.

Lil, as we called her, was born the youngest of four to Edmund B. White and Lillian E. White in Caribou, Maine on May 29. Her parents and brother, Paul, and sister, Carolyn, proceeded her in death. She is survived by her older sister, Talline Carlson of Virginia Beach, Va., her sister-in-law Helen White of Sarasota, Fla., and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and great grand nieces and nephews.

Lil retired from the United States Air Force, Biomedical Science Corps., as a Major in 1974. A Registered Occupational Therapist, she received her degrees from the University of Minnesota Medical School and her master’s degree in Psychiatric Occupational Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical School in 1968. In Durango she continued her membership in state, national and international occupational therapy associations.
Lil moved to Durango in 1974. She and Jacquie Moore, also an Air Force retiree, built their home and barn on land they purchased in the East Animas River Valley. Over the years they acquired horses, mules and donkeys. Lil also loved cats. Her last cat, Natalie, passed away earlier this year. Her donkey Slick, who was born on the ranch 30 years ago, survives.
Lil was active in many Durango organizations, including the Durango Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Animas Valley Grange and Resource Recovery.
She was tough and wanted things done the right way, but Lil had a soft spot for all animals and was a wonderful, loyal friend. She was one of a kind. We will miss her so.

Arrangements provided by Hood Mortuary, www.hoodmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed at Durango Food Bank, P.O. Box 156. Durango, Col. 81302; La Plata County Open Space Conservatory, 102 E. 8th St. Suite 202, Durango, Colo. 81301; or La Plata County Human Society, lpchumanesociety.org.