Sheila P. White, 92, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully at 4 p.m. Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Knox County Nursing Home.
She was born December 2, 1932, in London, England, and was raised by her mother and stepfather, Lily and Charles Rice. She married Norman Haugen in London on November 7, 1953; he died in 1956. She later married Julius Jay White in Oceanside, California, on October 16, 1962.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Patricia (Jerry) Metcalf of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Tina White (Matt Howard) of Knoxville; son Todd (Melissa) White of Huntersville, North Carolina; granddaughters Brooke (Kyle) Nigh of Lake Winnebago, Missouri, Nichole (Alex) Duetmeyer of Seattle, Washington, and Sophia White of Huntersville, North Carolina; grandson Sam Smith (Madison McRorie) of Morgantown, West Virginia; great-grandsons Noah and Asher Nigh; sister Mavourneen Lester of London, England; and numerous nieces and nephews around the world.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters (Eileen and Brenda), both husbands, a son Thomas B. Haugen, and an infant son Glyn Haugen.
Sheila attended St. Vincent de Paul School in Victoria, London. She worked at Harrods Department Store in London until her first marriage, then was a homemaker. Later she worked at the P.E.O. Home in Knoxville until its closure and then at Knox County Nursing Home.
Sheila was of Christian faith and very active in various churches throughout her life. She had an incredible gift for making friends wherever she went and was especially proud when she became a U.S. citizen on September 29, 1995.
The family extends sincere gratitude to OSF Hospice and the staff of Knox County Nursing Home for their compassionate care during Sheila’s final two months.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 25, 2025, with visitation one hour prior (10–11 a.m.) at Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes and Crematory in Knoxville. Rev. David Shreeves will officiate. Interment will follow at Knoxville Cemetery. Fellowship will follow graveside services at the Hurd-Hendricks Fellowship Center. Memorials may be made to the family (a charity will be chosen later). Online condolences may be left at www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com.