Surrounded by God, family and friends, Mary Lou White, 76, of Kennewick, Washington passed away peacefully at Kennewick Life Care Center on Sunday, July 21, 2013. Mary was the oldest of eleven children, born on August 18, 1936 in Casco, Wisconsin to John and Marjorie(Koss) Schmitt. Mary was a devote Catholic, and lived a life of service to God, family, friends and her church communities. Mary's cooking, baking, laughter, creativity, and social personality created an atmosphere of hospitality and love. Mary's life of ministry was open to the able and disabled, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. Mary's early years were in Wisconsin, where she graduated from Algoma High School. She lived in a variety of cities and worked in a variety of cities and worked in a variety of service related positions. She was a bookkeeper, Parish House Caretaker, waitress hostess, and hotel manager. It was as the manager at Schmitt's Coach Inn in Kewaunee, WI where she met James White. This relationship changed her life and moved her from single life to married, from sister/daughter to mother and she moved from city life to the "old west". She moved to Kennewick in 1971 and married James E White on November 24, 1972. She was an active, frugal homemaker, making most meals from 'scratch', sewing, knitting and crocheting thousands of items for others. She was an active member of Saint Joseph's Parish. Mary was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, a 25 year member of the RCIA Team at St. Joseph's, and a member of the Prince of Peace Prayer Group. She is survived by her two children, Janet (Sean) Bambock and John (Jenn) White; her four grandsons, James, Jacob, Justin Bambock, and Weston White; four brothers, Gregory, Joseph, Mark, and James Schmitt; three sisters, Pat Becker, Elizabeth and Cynthia Schmitt; 12 nieces, 8 nephews, and 6 grand nieces. Mary is preceded in death by James E. White (spouse), 2 brothers, Charles and John Schmitt, one sister, Katherine Schmitt, and her father and mother John and Marjorie Schmitt. A viewing will be held Wednesday, July 24, 2013 from 5PM-7PM followed by a Rosary at 7PM at the New St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 10AM also at St. Joseph's. Interment will follow the church services at Riverview Heights Cemetery. Family and friends will then gather at Dillon Hall at St. Joseph's Catholic Church for fellowship and a light lunch. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to St. Joseph's Catholic Church Building Fund. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Kennewick Life Care Center for their kindness, care and support they provided during the last days of her life.