Suzanne Day Booth White

Suzanne Day Booth White, a precious and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend passed away in Little Rock, AR on August 9 th 2023. Suzy was born on October 2, 1944 in Phoenix, AZ to Army Air Force parents Duffie and Josephine Booth. After the war, the family moved back home to Hope, AR, where Suzy lived an idyllic childhood of small town family gatherings and the joys of lifelong friends. She enjoyed a very close and long relationship with her mother, grandmother, and younger sister, Sally.

After graduating from Hope High School in 1962, Suzy attended the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She spent her time in Fayetteville enjoying Razorback games and lived in the sorority house for four years. In 1966, Suzy graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and moved to Little Rock to begin her 32 years of teaching, many of which were spent teaching 3 rd grade at Meadowcliff Elementary.

In December of 1966, Suzy caught the eye of a handsome “big talking” bachelor while both were the honor attendants in a wedding in Little Rock. Kelly White lived in Dallas at the time and “he must have really liked” Suzy, as he immediately began calling her on the telephone every night. They were married a short five months later on June 3, 1967. Suzy and Kelly were made for each other and seemed to know it. They had a wonderful 32 ½ years of marriage. Both educators, they raised two boys with love and much family time. They had the rare privilege to spend entire summers together at their family cabin on the Ouachita River outside of Mt. Ida. Suzy especially enjoyed walking in nature, wildflowers, writing poetry, collecting beautiful crystals, and being near the water, so she loved these times with her boys and oldest grandchild. While living in Little Rock, the family attended Mabelvale United Methodist Church. Suzy sang Alto in the Church Choir, which was fitting, as she beautifully harmonized with everyone around her, singing and otherwise. She always made everything and everyone around her feel loved and just a little bit better.

After Kelly’s death in 1999, Suzy remained in Mt. Ida for a few years, living alone in their retirement cabin home. The Lord saw her grief and provided a new home for Suzy on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs in 2001. Right next door to her lifelong friends, it would be a wonderful home for Suzy the next 22 years. Her boys and their families enjoyed many fun times at her beautiful home on the Lake, especially fishing, boating, eating Nana’s cheese dip, pancakes, and relaxing time away. Suzy was excited about getting involved in her new community, and joined P.E.O. Sisterhood and First United Methodist Church Hot Springs, where she again sang Alto in the choir for many years and happily volunteered on Bereavement Committee. She also deeply loved and served dementia patients weekly at The Caring Place Ministry.

Suzy absolutely loved to travel with her friends, and found herself anywhere they wanted to go, with Europe always being a favorite! Although Suzy loved to travel abroad, she was equally happy at Shangri La resort on Lake Ouachita, eating pie and enjoying her family and friends, where, in fact, she was the weekend prior to her passing.

One of her most special trips was to the Holy Land, where the Bible truly came to life and she felt her relationship to the Lord grow even deeper. Suzy often spoke of her ongoing conversations with Jesus. He was her comfort and strength her entire life, beginning with the earliest of childhood memories. Suzy spent her life loving Jesus and humbly serving others. She often emphatically told her family, “Don’t be sad for me when I am gone, because I am with Jesus!”, and she meant it.

Suzy was blessed with two sons and leaves behind a loving family legacy: Jay Kelly White, and his wife, Laura of Little Rock; David Ross White, and his wife Chelsea, of Tulsa. Her joy was complete with four wonderful grandchildren Jacob McKinney White, and his wife Lauren, of Dallas; Katelyn Kelly White of Little Rock; Phillip Kelly White and Julia Day White of Tulsa; her sister Sally Short and husband Joe of Hope, two nephews, and many lifelong friends who were family. Suzy was preceded in death by her parents, Duffie and Josephine Booth; husband, Kelly Ross White, and a sister Mary Ellen. We will miss her deeply, but are thrilled to know she is reunited with her true love, and so many others. The family wishes to thank the staff at The Blake in Little Rock for their loving care of Suzy the past 7 months.

A Celebration of Suzy’s life will be at the First United Methodist Church Hot Springs, on Saturday, August 26 th at 11 am. A Private burial service will be held prior at the Mt. Ida Cemetery. Donations can be made to the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Thornton Funeral Service in Mt. Ida. Guest register at www.thorntonfh.com