On September 21, 2019, Florence Henrietta “Flo” White (Peters) began her journey to her eternal home after sharing 77 wonderful years of life with family and friends.  Flo was born on November 18, 1941 at home in Hoopa to James & Daraxa Peters. If anyone asks her age, please remember she was timeless and remained 22! She was one of twelve siblings.

Flo was a dedicated and faithful follower of Jesus Christ.  She was best known for her words of courage and wisdom for the Lord that she shared with many.  As her niece Cindy stated, “Flo was loyal to the Lord and would have gone to bat any given day to honor Him.” 

She put family first in her life and raised two batches of kids.  Early on, she was the bookkeeper for her and her husband’s trucking business; she would drive truck in a pinch as well, on the scariest narrow roads.  She also helped care take for her sister Lee, her mother Daraxa, and sister in-law Vera Lane during their illnesses.  

Known for her infectious smile, laugh and that Peters humor, Flo could light up any room with laughter.  Her favorite sayings to people who did things for her were, “I’ll dance at your wedding barefoot,” and “I’ll love you for a whole week.”  And even so far as to say you could be queen for a day.  When she was going somewhere she’d say she was headed to “raise cane” at the clinic, store, ball games and laugh with her old friends.  She was known for her courage, strength, charm, and dedication to move forward in hard times for her family. She never left the house without her hands and wrists covered with jewelry. She took pride in her presence, she always dressed her best and beautiful-est. Her loving hands provided service and comfort to so many people.

Florence was a cornerstone and a fighter with fierce strength of will.  Anything she faced she rose to the occasion; she built a safe home for her precious grandbabies when her daughter Andrea “Chick” White disappeared. Her hopes and wishes were to be able to find her daughter, her baby.  She raised her five grandchildren during the stormy times of their life.  Flo was an anchor for them during the times of chaos and provided them a secure, loving, and nurturing home.  Always entertaining, she would sing and dance with the kids, garden flowers, can fish and salsa, she loved making pies and throwing birthday dinners for each of the kids.  She made amazing yeast rolls that would knock your socks off and one kid said, “These are so yummy whoever made these I would marry her!”  When Flo lived by the school she would take her grandson Doobins “loopidy loo” and go hunting for treasure. She had a special way of making  everything bigger than life with her creativity and “injun-uity”.  Her grandkids were the center of her world,  she was the stronghold and matriarch.  As the children grew older, Flo opened her home to many other children whom she considered her own grandchildren: James Williamson, John Mitchell, Terrence Moon, Gene Nelson, Henry Davis, Ace Aguilar, Duke, Thomas & Doug Branham, and many others. 

We have so many precious memories and have been taught valuable lessons to pass on. Let her songs of pain and beauty also fill your heart with the same hope, joy, and wild love she had for life.  We express our gratitude to the doctors and nurses at K’ima:w Medical Center, Mad River Community Hospital, and Mercy Hospital. We also appreciate all of  our dear friends and family that offered prayers, gifts, and support during our time of need. Her powerful spirit will carry on through the ways she showed us to love and look after one another.  

Flo is survived by her children: Anna Mae White & Shmuel, Bonnie Sue & “Still Son-in-Law” Dennis Donahue, Penny Lorraine Cordova, Andrea “Chick” White (still missing), and stepdaughter Anjulie White. Grandchildren: Merwin & Virginia Clark, Nicoli Allen, Jessica Allen & Thomas Gordon, Arnold Davis III, Tori Attebery, William Axton & Sachayna Davis, Danny Davis & Naomi Huddleson, and Inessa Bartholomew; Great-Grandchildren:  Rodney, Merwin, Brennen “Toss,” Brently, Andrea, Arnie IV. “Sweet Arns,” Ivan, Tara Grace, Tishawnik “Kata-Hee,” Marley, and Calvin.  

Siblings; Donna Matilton, Bertha Peters, Susan & Robert Burdick, Chris & Tia Peters, Billy & Susie Peters, Sue Burcell-Peters, Nieces & Nephews; Eugene Lewis, Tina Rae & Gary Jury, Page & Irma Matilton, Jason & Holly Jones, Dania Rose Colegrove, Walt McKinnon, Charles Burdick, Robin Burdick & Barry, Jody Peters & Jessica Black, Maggie Peters & Thomas Masten, Chisa Oros & Gene Harry Jr., Tammy & Cecilia Peters, Gerald & Beverly Stevens, Cindy, Merri Mae, Sherri Rae, & Gilberta Marshall, Laurie Eslick, Martha & David Hutchason, Leslie Eslick, Jonny & Michele Eslick, Ralph Peters Jr., Jamie Peters, Billy-Joe & Tanee Peters, Amos & Kimberly Pole, and numerous great, great-great nieces and nephews. 

She is preceded in death by Andrew “Sunky” White; Parents; James & Daraxa Peters, Children; Andrew White Jr., William “Toss” White, Son-in-Law:  Alonzo Cordova; Siblings; Mary Jane & Jack Eslick, Charles & Josephine Peters, George & Gladys Stevens, Elizabeth Peters, Ralph Peters Sr., William Andrew Peters & Ray Matilton and numerous other loved ones.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at the Hoopa Neighborhood Facility in Hoopa, California, with burial immediately following the services at the Young’s Bar Cemetery.  There will be a reception for family and friends at the Morek won Community Center (McKinnon Hill).

Casket bearers are Merwin “Doobins” Clark, Dennis Donahue, Arnold Davis III, Axton Davis, Danny Davis, Thomas Gordon. Honorary Pallbearers are her nephews, too many to name.

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The obituary above was submitted by Denise’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.