Leta (Lee) Doreen White, (Smith)

LETA  DOREEN  (SMITH)  WHITE, RN  (1929-2020)

Leta (Lee) White passed away peacefully in her own home, in the arms of her loving husband Robert, on Friday, 27th November 2020 shortly after her 91st birthday and 68th Anniversary.

Born on the 7th November 1929 in Meaford, (Ontario), Leta was the elder daughter of Edward Alexander Smith and Alma Minerva (Watson) Smith. Leta was predeceased by her younger sister Joanne (Oliver) and brother Dennis Smith. Survived by her children David (Mary-Jo), Richard (Elizabeth), Cynthia (Michael) & Patricia. She will be missed by her many Grandchildren: Christina (Dave); Sarah, Andrea, Matthew (Richard); Connor, Brandon, Taylor Lee (Cynthia); Cooper, Cale (Patricia); Great-grandchildren: Samantha, Areil (Christina); Taylor, Byron, Raylee (Sarah/Peter); Ella (Andrea/Julian); Eva (Matthew/Dee); God-Son: Trevor (Paterson); beloved Melodie Sadler; Nieces & nephews: Julia, Jeffrey (Oliver); Jerry, Wendy, Chris, Paul (Smith); lovely Marikit & Gerlyn; dear Rosemary and our merged family with the Julls; and by Lee's many wonderful friends in Canada, New Zealand and around the world.

Lee grew up in the loving home of Ed and Alma Smith in the apple-growing, rural town of Meaford, on the shores of scenic Georgian Bay.  In her younger years, Lee spent much time in the care of her devoted Watson Grandparents while her mother & dad worked summers at Pointe Au Baril.  As Ed and Alma's family grew, Lee became the beloved big sister to Joanne and brother Dennis. Always nurturing and helping others, Lee spent her later summers in the Owen Sound Marine Hospital, then into Nursing training at Toronto General Hospital with RN graduation in 1951, followed by a lifelong interest in Geriatrics.

During the early summer of 1950, she oversaw the nursing care of a young Air Force pilot-in-training named Robert (Bud) White. Her vivacious personality & beauty completely captured his heart, and they married on 13th September 1952 after Bud’s graduation from RMC. 

Their marriage led to a series of military moves, first across Canada, then to Britain, Germany, and to the United States. Their first child, David, was born in Chatham, New Brunswick; Richard in Zweibrucken, Germany; and Cynthia in Trenton, Ontario; and Patricia was born in Toronto, before the family moved to Ottawa --- then RMC Kingston, Montgomery (Alabama) & Ottawa -- and a final retirement at North Bay, Ontario in 1979.

Throughout their 31 years of military service and countless moves, Lee not only mothered and stabilized the family, typed her hubbie’s flight test reports, presided over social affairs, transported her brood to school & sporting events, but also provided wise guidance and counsel to her busy husband and active family. As the kids grew up and headed off, Lee returned to nursing -- working part-time in seniors centres and health care facilities in Ottawa, Braeside & Whistler, giving back and helping others, becoming a favourite nurse wherever she worked.

Lee loved the outdoors & she loved to travel. With baby David, Lee followed her hockey-playing husband all through the Alps, Bavaria, Italy & Austria. Returning to the UK in 1959 with 3 children, she & family travelled extensively through the UK & Spain, and again enjoyed ski holidays in the Alps. After 3 years in Los Angeles they enjoyed a 40-day family camping holiday in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks & back to Canada through the Dakotas. Unforgettable!  When Patti turned 5, they all camped for 5 weeks on the westcoast beach of Cyprus, scuba-dived together in the Med, and toured the ancient sites of Lebanon & Syria. Later, Lee & Bud with their girls took an amazing bike-camping-train circular trip to France, down the Rhone to the Med, and up the Loire to Paris.

In 1986, after over 30 years of military & 10 years of civilian life, (and with kids all grown), Lee and Bud retired to Whistler, BC, and Lee worked in the Medical Center. With her infectious smile, Lee quickly won the hearts of all the young Blackcomb instructors, and she & Bud even spent a wonderful summer holiday with the 'Dempsey Team' in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. And with their McGillian Team they built a lovely new home in Alpine Meadows.

Whistler really turned up Lee's love of the outdoors. After she & Bud hiked all the short trails of the North Shore & Howe Sound mountains, she took courses in snow & ice arrest, and upped her game: 3-day camping/hiking past the Black Tusk north to Whistler; 7-day, heavy-duty, back-packing up/down the Carmanah & out the West Coast trail; 9-day North to South through the wilderness of Lord Strathcona Park. Then one day in 1993 -- in her mid 60's -- Lee said, "I want to see animals in Africa before I die". 

The solution was to base Lee & Bud for a couple of years in New Zealand & explore Asia. That turned into a 10-year love affair with the Kiwis, and a wonderful syndcate of hi-country Marino sheep ranchers that had a Cessna 172 "TAR". Lee was nervous at first, but TAR had an easy acess door. So in no time she got the flying bug, and enjoyed the magnificent mountains & coastlines of both islands together with Bud & the many family & friends that came to visit. The best part of 'Down Under' was the wonderful Kiwi friends she made. From New Zealand, she was also able to visit the palaces in Bankok, the great Wall of China, the ruins of Ankor Wat, and even ride an elephant into the Golden Triangle. And of course, she went to Africa! For almost 6 weeks, no less!

Lee and Bud flew into Maun, Botswana, and spent their first week in tents & dug-out 'macoros' in the hippo-laden channels of the Okavango Delta. Then through Chobe to Victoria Falls, and on to Kariba, where they began a week in Canadian canoes paddling down Zimbabwe's mighty Zambezi to Mana Pools. Hippos, elephants, lions, hyenas, zebras and leopards -- she saw them all -- and more in the parks during the rental-car drives from Johannesburg through Ladysmith to Pietermaritzburg. Finally, the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to the Cape. So that final Africa dream of Lee's was well satisfied, even before she reached her good friends in Capetown !

Returning to Canada in 2003 & living in their Vancouver condo, Lee & Bud found themselves embraced by the local Air Force Officers Association and the Fraser Blues Navion gang. They were so welcoming and so much fun that they quickly became the center of her social life. She loved and cherished every one of them. 

A life well lived, full of world travel and adventure. In her final days with Bud by her side, Lee watched with delight videos and photos of the recent births of 2 new great-grandchildren Eva & Raylee, born shortly before her passing. Moments before she passed, she had been looking at the wall of family photos and had said, "I just love that picture."

We will all miss Lee's brave heart and lovely smile.  But she is at peace now.