Luella Ann (Doak) White
WHITE, Luella Ann (Doak), 94, Presque Isle, at Brewer, July 28, 2016. At her request, there will be no calling hours and no funeral service. A private graveside service was held in Estes Park Cemetery in Easton, Monday August 1.
PRESQUE ISLE – Luella Ann (Doak) White went to meet her Lord and Savior on July 28, 2016, at the Brewer Rehab & Living Center in Brewer, Maine. She was born in Easton, on August 1, 1921, to George Addington Doak and Eva Alma (Buckingham) Doak.
She was educated in Easton Schools and graduated from Easton High School in the class of 1940. At the time of her passing, Luella was the last surviving member of the Easton High School class of 1940.
Luella contracted polio at an early age and endured a seemingly endless round of surgeries and physical therapies during her life as a result. She never complained though, and was active throughout her entire life. Her dad passed away from pneumonia due to WWI injuries when she was only four, and she grew up in Easton, along with her brother, John, in a single parent household.
Luella worked as a switchboard operator for the phone company in Easton while she was still in High School. After graduation, she found employment as a maid at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle while she lived in an apartment on the third floor of the hotel. It was at this time that she met Clinton O. White, who she would marry in May of 1943.
Luella served as a Gray Lady (Red Cross volunteer) at Presque Isle Army Air Field during World War II. She and Clinton ran a Gulf Station on the Houlton Road in Presque Isle, she worked as a presser at the Presque Isle Laundry and Dry Cleaners, worked in the meat department for the local A&P Supermarket, and, up until her retirement, was head cook (at Zippel School) for SAD#1 in Presque Isle.
Luella joined the Bethany Baptist Church of Presque Isle in 1956 and was a devoted member. She was active in several church groups. She served as the Sunday School Superintendent at Bethany at one time. Luella was also a member and past president of the Missionary Guild at Bethany. She was a volunteer member of Aroostook RSVP for almost 30 years, working for some time in the gift shop at Gould Memorial Hospital (now TAMC) in Presque Isle as well as a “meals-on- wheels” driver. Luella was a member and past president of the Spragueville Extension. She was also a member and past President of the Women’s Auxiliary of American Legion Ray Goding Post 88.
After she retired in 1986, Luella sold the family home on the Spragueville Road in Presque Isle where she had lived for over 30 years. She moved into Presque Isle and lived for a number of years on Munson Street and later at McCulley Commons.
During her retirement, Luella knitted over 1000 pairs of mittens for children in the school system as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren and anyone who needed them.
She is survived by her five children, their spouses and their children: Bryan and Jane (Norsworthy) White of Pittsfield, Mass., and daughter, Lisa (White) Pletzer, and son, Bryan White Jr.; Brenda and Skip McIsaac of Plant City, Fla., and their daughter, Marcy (McIsaac) Rooks and her fiancé, Brent Hatten; Colin and Shirley (Gonet) White of Newmarket, NH, and Colin’s children: son, Colin Jr. and his wife, Mandee White, and daughter, Jennifer White and her partner, Jana Whitten; Carmen and Phil McPhail of Lincoln, ME, and their children: daughter, Morgan (McPhail) Espling and her husband, Joey Espling, and daughter, Erica, as well as Carmen’s son, Justin Martin and his wife, Nichole Martin; Lynn and Tim Hancock of Waterville, ME, and Lynn’s son, Scott White Jr. and his wife, Lizzy, and Tim’s children: daughters, Erika Ashe and her husband, Ken, Melissa, Megan, MaKayla, Mallory, Noelle and his son, Kyle. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren: Jaedyn and John Pletzer, Sean and Mason Rooks, Zeke and Felix Martin, and Jordan and Emilee White; one great-great-granddaughter, Aria Rooks. She also leaves behind her beloved sister-in-law, Ida (Craig) Doak and Ida’s children: nephew, Jim Doak; and nieces, Jo Cape and Nancy Clark.
Luella was predeceased by her parents; her brother, John Wilmont Doak; and her ex-husband, Clinton O. White.
She was known as Nana, Nana Lu, Lu, Luella, Mom and a host of other endearing names. Luella left behind a myriad of friends, especially her fellow church members at Bethany Baptists Church and co-residents at McCulley Commons in Presque Isle. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
At Luella’s request, there will be no calling hours and no funeral service. Donations in Luella’s name can be made to Baptist Park in Mapleton, ME, or Bethany Baptist Church in Presque Isle, ME. Luella was buried in Estes Park Cemetery in Easton, Monday August 1, 2016, beside her parents and her brother, John. A private graveside service was held at that time.
