Our beloved Jere Wayne White passed away peacefully in his home on January 22, 2024, with his husband Gary Richmond and best friend Francine Marie by his side, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.
Jere was born on July 14, 1959, in Amarillo, Texas to parents Jere and Barbara White. He grew up in Panhandle, Texas with his older sister Kim. Jere received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Angelo State University then went on to receive a Masters of Divinity at Phillips University Seminary in Enid, Oklahoma in 1988. In Enid he met his husband of 35 years, Gary Richmond.
In 1990 Jere and Gary moved to Oregon where Jere finished his formal education with a Master of Library Science from Emporia State University. He enjoyed a 28-year career with Multnomah County library as a librarian, where he created an outreach program providing library services for shut ins.
Jere and Gary made their home in the St John’s neighborhood of Portland for 28 years before escaping Portland and relocating to Mount Angel, Or, in 2021.
Jere loved traveling the world with his husband, collecting pre-Columbian art, and had a passion for beautiful things, particularly anything 18 karat or better! Ruby was his favorite gemstone, and he wore many throughout his life.
Jere was a very generous man and supported many charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International and most recently the Mount Angel Public Library.
Jere leaves behind his loving husband, Gary, their 3 cherished dogs Ben, Benny and Joey, his very best friend in the world Francine Marie, his sister Kim Sterling and her husband Steve, his nephew Colby Sterling and his wife Marci, niece Kelly Neumeyer and her husband Drew, his grandnieces and nephews and many close personal friends.
Jere, you will be loved beyond forever.
