Jeanne White

Jean (Jeanne) McEwen White embarked on her final journey on March 10, 2018, when she left her friends and family to be with Jesus.

Jeanne was born in Reno, Nevada in 1947 but fell in love the with the ocean and white sandy beaches when she and her parents moved to Carmel, California for her childhood through high school. She majored in art history at San Jose State University and worked various jobs in the banking industry before settling at the US Geological Survey. Jeanne discovered her greatest calling in life when she started her family and brought two boys into this world.

Jeanne’s life of adventure began when she and her family made the move north to Bigfork, Montana in 1981. Following a house fire in 1989, Jeanne officially abandoned her beach girl life when she and her boys moved to a remote mountaintop outside of Trego, Montana. These treasured years of her life were highlighted by woodstove cooking and homeschooling her sons through high school. She learned to can wild game, bake bread, and mill lumber. She loved her horses and holiday meals prepared by the light from kerosene lanterns.

Jeanne returned to Bigfork in 1996 after her sons had begun adventures of their own. She maintained friendships from her childhood while making new ones wherever she went. Jeanne managed properties, cleaned homes, and served the community selflessly at the Ferndale Sewing Circle and as the secretary of the Ferndale Fire Department.

Jeanne’s passion for adventure and travel met its perfect match when Bob Colby invited her for a motorcycle ride in 2008. Their marriage spread love all around the world as they boated, biked, and flew themselves to new destinations and relationships. She will be remembered as a gracious host, loving mother and wife, committed friend, selfless servant, and passionate mentor. Everyone who met her was affected by her vivacious personality, joyful conversations, and contagious love for life.  Our lives are all better and brighter because of her overflowing spirit of bold compassion, generous laughter, and honest heart.

She is survived by her loving husband Bob Colby, her sons Jason (and Ginger) May, Jordan (and Natalie) White, step-children Adam (and Tina) Colby, and Karin Colby, and granddaughters Kaitlyn and Kassidy May.