(Flora) Beatrice Coleman White died on June 26, 2023 at 92 years of age.  Known fondly to almost everyone as "Bea," she was born on June 14, 1931 in Morgan City, Louisiana and raised in Coushatta, Louisiana, where she graduated high school and then attended Gregg Secretarial College in Shreveport, Louisiana. She and (Douglas) Gaylon White were married on August 27,1950 in Shreveport, Louisiana, then moved to Houston in 1958 for Gaylon's job as an economist with Texas Eastern Pipeline.  There they raised their three children, David, Susan and Paul, and made many lifelong friends.

When Bea's family was half grown, an opportunity arose for her to serve as school secretary at the children's neighborhood school, Rummel Creek Elementary in Spring Branch ISD, where Bea's positive attitude and tremendous organizational skills helped the school and her dear friend the principal achieve highest honors. Bea's love of education was also instilled in her three children, all of whom became teachers.  Bea was very active in their church, the PTA ,and local Republican Party activities. She and Gaylon were especially proud to have volunteered for George H. W. Bush's first campaign for Congress in 1968 in Houston.

After Bea and Gaylon retired in 1988, they built their beautiful home Maple Hill on Gaylon's family farm in Harleton, in Harrison County, Texas.  Together with Gaylon, Bea helped found the First National Bank of Harleton (now First National Bank of Hughes Springs) and the Harleton Water Supply Corporation.  They were also instrumental in organizing the Harleton Centennial Celebration in 1992 and the Harleton Happenings community newspaper, and she and Gaylon were very involved with preserving local history with the Harrison County Historical Commission and Museum.

Bea and Gaylon enjoyed retired life in the country, and they loved having family and friends come visit and rock on their front porch.  Bea and Gaylon also raised cattle on the family farm, and because they were so fond of the Bush's, they named one of their prized cows after First Lady Barbara Bush. Bea was always a talented gardener with beautiful flower beds, and she loved to share daylilies and other "pass-along" plants to friends and family.  She was also a very talented seamstress and could sew just about anything, including her first daughter-in-law's wedding dress and a beautiful hand-pieced quilt hanging in her front hallway.

Bea was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Douglas Gaylon White; parents Tommie Webster Coleman and Georgia Alma Bates; and her siblings Cleaver Vesta Coleman Wood, Clarence Ray Coleman, Aubrey Lee Coleman, and Shirley Bates Coleman Turner.  She is survived by her children, David Gaylon White and wife Sarah; Susan Lynn White and husband Mark Jones; Paul Lee White and wife Kristie; grandchildren Laura White and husband Ryan Chin, Henry White, Miranda Crow and husband Talin Crow, and Travis White, as well as three great- grandchildren, six nieces and nephews, and numerous grand-nieces and -nephews.

Visitation for Bea will be on Friday, July 7, 2023 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Downs Funeral Home in Marshall, and the funeral will be held on Saturday, July 8th at 10:00 AM at Downs Funeral Home, followed by a brief graveside service at Center Cemetery in Harleton, Texas.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Harrison County Historical Museum or other charity of your choice.