(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)Dr. Renee White, left this world for her heavenly home Tuesday September 9, 2025 due to complications from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Renee’s given name was Alice, which she shared with her mother. Renee was born May 21, 1961 in Shawnee, Kansas. She was the 8th of 9 children born to Chuck and Alice Pope.
As a child, Renee was quiet, liked to read and was the neighborhood babysitter. She graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1979 and then attended Pittsburg State University where she earned a degree in Social Work.
She began her social work career at Elm Acres Youth Home in Columbus, KS, helping young people in state custody transition back to their families. There she met Danny Joe Johnson, and they married on March 31, 1984. Danny Joe and Renee soon moved to Joplin and became involved in the recovery community. They built a life around the 12-Steps of AA and Alanon and spent time attending and speaking at NA and AA groups in the area. Danny passed away on March 21, 1990.
After some time, a recovery friendship blossomed into a loving relationship with Michael White, and Renee and Michael were married at Thorn Crown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR on May 9, 1992. Michael and Renee welcomed two children, Grace in 1997 and Austin in 2000. Renee was an incredible mother to Grace and Austin.
Family, friends and community were central to Renee’s life. She had a way of bringing people together in groups for fun and work, yet was attentive to each individual she spoke with. One of her biggest goals was to see how many family and friends she could pack into one hotel room during vacations. She always made room for everyone.
Renee never met a problem that she believed one or many social workers couldn’t solve. She was involved with over 30 community organizations where she served as a member, often in a leadership role. She found causes that needed support and worked to create or improve many agencies that are still serving today, including the Joplin Community Clinic, Joplin Children’s Haven, and the MSSU Lions CO-OP Food Pantry. Education was always an important part of her life as she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Pittsburg State University, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Arkansas and a Doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Missouri. In her later years she began to share lessons she learned by becoming a college professor teaching at Missouri State University, Missouri Southern State University and finishing her career at University of Kansas.
Family, friends and community were central to Renee’s life. She had a way of bringing people together in groups for fun and work, yet was attentive to each individual she spoke with. One of her biggest goals was to see how many family and friends she could pack into one hotel room during vacations. She always made room for everyone.
Renee never met a problem that she believed one or many social workers couldn’t solve. She was involved with over 30 community organizations where she served as a member, often in a leadership role. She found causes that needed support and worked to create or improve many agencies that are still serving today, including the Joplin Community Clinic, Joplin Children’s Haven, and the MSSU Lions CO-OP Food Pantry. Education was always an important part of her life as she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Pittsburg State University, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Arkansas and a Doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Missouri. In her later years she began to share lessons she learned by becoming a college professor teaching at Missouri State University, Missouri Southern State University and finishing her career at University of Kansas.
Renee had many accomplishments during her life but what she will be remembered for is how she made you feel when you were in her presence. She was one of the most uplifting and supportive people you have ever met. Whether you were having a good day or bad, Renee was always there to support and encourage. We’ll never know why her life was cut short by the incurable disease of ALS, but her wish would be that everyone reading this obituary would choose to “Celebrate Everything!” and “Remember How Rare it Really Is”
Renee is survived by her husband Michael of Holts Summit, MO, daughter, Grace of Kansas City, MO, son Austin of Verona, MO, stepchildren, Danielle Scott and Michael Johnson of Joplin, MO, eight siblings and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Sunday September 14, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at Mason-Woodard Mortuary.
A celebration of life will be held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Monday September 15, at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Children’s Haven – Joplin, the ALS Association, or the Renee White Groovy Social Work Scholarship at Missouri Southern State University and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory Joplin, MO.
No comments:
Post a Comment