WHITE, Doris Mae

Published by Parker Pioneer from Jul. 8 to Jul. 9, 2021 - Parker, Arizona >> Doris Mae Begay White << >> May 29, 1926 to June 29, 2021 << Doris Mae Begay White. 95, of Parker, went to be with the Great Spirit on Tuesday, June 29, while in residence at the Polidori House in Lake Havasu City. Doris was a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Her maternal Navajo clan is Salt people (Ashiihi) and her paternal clan is Deerwater. She attended Tuba City Boarding School, graduating in 1944 as valedictorian. While in school, Doris played on the girls' basketball team. After graduation, she worked at the Navajo Ordinance Depot in Bellemont during World War II before becoming employed as a telephone operator for the government at the Tuba City Boarding School. In April 1950, Doris moved from the Navajo Nation to become a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes under the Indian Relocation Act. Doris assisted her husband, George White, in farming land. Together, they grew alfalfa, barley, wheat, cotton and melons. She was a leader for the first Haymakers & Homemakers 4-H Club from 1955 to 1975. She was a girls' basketball coach for such teams as the Poston Tribettes, Poston Cotton Queens, and others from 1964 until 1974. Doris obtained her Associate of Arts degree from Arizona Western College in 1975. She was a CRIT Head Start Teacher from 1967 until she retired in 1994. She would later volunteer as a cook for St. Vincent De Paul in Parker from 2002 to 2006. In recent years, Doris enjoyed her daily lunchtime visit to the Parker Senior Center with her son, George. An avid sports fan, Doris's favorite teams were the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Doris is preceded in death by D. Candi Williams (daughter), Frances Begay (mother) and Julius Begay (father). Survivors include sons George White Jr. of Parker and Bobby (Barbara) White of Gallup, N.M.; daughters Karen (Gene) White Sellers, Jacqueline (Robert) Reaves and Lynetta White, all of Parker. Grandchildren include Kyndra White- Astorga, Nick White, Starrla Johnson, Shawn Sellers, and Steffen Williams. Doris also had two great grandchildren. Her entire family will miss enjoying Doris's award-winning Navajo fry bread. Viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 9, at Parker Dignity Funeral Home. Service will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 10, at Parker Dignity Funeral Home. This will be followed by a procession to Parker Cemetery and burial.