In Loving Memory

Derral Ray White

Derral Ray White, a 17-year resident of the Colville, WA area, went to be with our Lord and Savior on May 19, 2022 near his home in Addy. Derral was born on November 18, 1951 in Pomona, California, to parents Don Perry White and Ruby Yates White.

Derral had a strong desire to serve his country so with the help of his father he enlisted in the U. S. Army at age 17. He loved flying and training to be a paratrooper in Vietnam. He ended up spending most of his time walking through the jungles on reconnaissance teams! His family and friends understood the life changing effect of earning the title "combat vet."

After his return to the States he soon married. Even though his young marriage was brief, he was so thankful to have a son to love for the rest of his life.

Derral became a long-haul trucker, many times traveling across the land he loved. In the mid-1980's he moved to Western Washington to be with family, and for the next 30 years was a talented drywall finisher. Derral became active in Point Man Ministries, and in 2005 joined a couple other families in moving to Colville to reach out to hurting veterans.

Discovered to be a good dancer, he was recruited into becoming a founding member of the Colville Dance Club. It was there that he eventually met and took the hand of Lisa Shinn and never let it go. They exchanged wedding vows on June 20, 2010 in Everett, WA at the church where he attended with his family for many years. In addition to dancing, their new life together included gardening, raising turkeys and sheep, riding horses and having lots of family and friends over for dinners. They also became volunteers with Fire District #5, Derral as a firefighter and Lisa as EMT; Derral especially enjoyed the action and camaraderie with all the firefighters.

His reflection is that of a man who had great passion, patriotism and was poetry in motion. He was a student of U.S. and military history. He had a phenomenal ability to recall what he had learned in life's travels and shared his knowledge with poetic cadence, character and tale. Throughout his life he continued to love and talk about the Christian foundation of liberty that is unique to the USA.

Derral was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Donnie White.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa Shinn-White of Addy; son, Louis Ray White (Shirley) and three grandchildren: Katelyn, Alec and Sydney White of Kennewick, WA; brother, Carl White (Teresa) of Whitesboro, TX; sister, Nell Waldrop (Dan) of Marysville, WA; and a host of much-loved nieces, nephews and extended family.

The memorial service for Derral will begin at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 4, 2022 at the Addy New Life Church on Highway 395. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted in care and cremation.