SuAnn Stephenson-White

Suann Stephenson-White left the bonds of earth to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, May 4, 2023.  She was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma to father Don Stephenson and mother Bethany Ann Hanson Stephenson on February 26, 1955.  She was predeceased by her parents, her stepson Aaron Lee White, and her husband Leroy White.  ‘Suann’ is survived by her sister Cyndi Gibbs (Jay) of Swansboro, NC, two nephews Nathan and Matthew, by her daughter Hiedi White of Ft. Myers, FL and granddaughter Bethany and grandson Augustus and by her daughter Haley White of Havana, FL and grandson Jaron and granddaughters Scarlett and Temperance.

Suann grew up in Iowa where she graduated from high school.  She played on the high school softball team and ran track.  After graduation from high school she enlisted in the Navy.  She and her sister Cyndi spent part of their summers on the farm with their grandparents.  Perhaps that's where she learned to be a hard worker.  After the Navy she went to cosmetology school.   When her mom Bethany opened her medical clinic in Moore Haven Su helped in the office with Beth.  That’s where Suann and Leroy met.  They were married on May 31, 1989.  They spent almost all the rest of their time together on their property on Wayman Road.

Suann liked working in the yard and could out work most men.  She was employed for a time with A. Duda and Sons writing software and doing secretarial work but got bored and tried selling Rainbow vacuums.  When that didn’t pan out she went to Nursing school in Ft. Myers.  One of her teachers said she organized and lead study groups and was one of her best students.  She was about 40 years old when she went back to school.  After earning her LPN she went to work with healthy start.  She worked with recovering addicts trying to get on their feet.  At one point she brought home six children over the weekend so their father wouldn’t have to miss work.

Suann was in a bad accident in 1997 and stayed home for a time then worked at a nursing home in Clewiston.  She left that job over a dispute with a supervisor.  She worked with the Glades County sheriffs department at the county jail while at the same time holding down a job with A. Duda a second time.  She spent a number of years caring for her father with Parkinson’s disease and her mother with ALS Lou Gerrig’s disease.  She also cared for Leroy while he suffered from numerous medical issues.

Now she is with the ultimate healer in heaven.  Suann and Leroy will be interred next to each other in Tallahassee National Cemetery following a joint memorial service on their wedding anniversary May 31, 2023.  The service is scheduled for 11:00 A.M.