Shirley Claudine White

At 3:20 AM on Friday, September 15, 2023 Shirley Claudine (Hedrick) White moved from her temporary Claremore, Oklahoma residence to her eternal heavenly home with Jesus.

Shirley was born on December 17, 1933 in Geary, Oklahoma to William J. and Edna M. Hedrick.  Shirley got her first full-time job at the age of 12 as a waitress at the Geary Café, working for Mr. & Mrs. Fisher, who she remembered with great fondness for their kindness to her.  Shirley was working for the Fishers in their El Reno café when she met the love of her life, Don Duane White.  They were married in Wichita Falls, Texas on July 3, 1950.  When asked how Don proposed, Shirley said, "He didn't ask me to marry him, he asked me which day I wanted to get married on – July 3, 4 or 5" already assuming the answer would be 'yes'!

Don & Shirley lived in Oklahoma City until July 1, 1956 when they purchased their first home in Yukon, Oklahoma.  Don wanted his daughters to go to Yukon public schools, so Yukon was where they made their home until 1967 when they moved to their final home in Banner, Oklahoma.  Don and Shirley bought their barber shop in 1957, where Don barbered for the next 70+ years.

Shirley and Don raised daughters Donna, Pamela and Christy in Banner and enjoyed 73 years of married life there, welcoming grandchildren, great & great-great grandchildren into their lives & home during their time together.

After their daughters were graduated, Shirley returned to school and achieved her GED, a long wished for goal.  After that, there was no stopping her as she went on to obtain her cosmetology license and cosmetology teacher's certificate.  Shirley taught at the Yukon Beauty School for ten years, retired, opened her own barber shop on main street, Yukon; retired a second time and then getting bored, went back to work as a substitute teacher in the Yukon Public School system.  Shirley loved her time as substitute teachers and only retired a 3rd time when both she and Don stopped driving.

Family was the most important thing to Shirley, and she is still remembered fondly by her siblings, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren for the huge family celebrations and meals she hosted throughout her married life.  She was an excellent cook and you never left her home hungry.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Don; daughter Christy (White) McLean; and brothers Bill, Ed, Donnie and Leon Hedrick and sister Gerry Hood.  She is survived by daughters:  Donna and husband Ray Heldermon of Claremore, OK and Pamela and husband Neldon McDaniel of Banner, OK, and grandchildren:  Dr. Coy Don Heldermon of Gainesville, FL; Tera (McDaniel) & Clark Kerr of Yukon; Clifford McDaniel of Yukon and Katy (McLean) & Adam Gould of Waynesville, NC, in addition to 7 great grandchildren and 6 great, great grandchildren.  Shirley is also survived by a brother and two sisters:  Jim & Sheila Hedrick, Mary & Hank Whitby and Connie Cutler as well as by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.