Mabel E. (Dorrell) White, 89, of Franklin, wife of the late Dr. Charles White, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2015. She was born January 25, 1926 to the late Merrill and Lillian (Barnett) Dorrell. She was the beloved wife of Dr. Charles White whom she married in 1962. He was widowed and she adopted his four children: Caroline, Larry, Nancy, and Dorothy. Previous to this she was a nurse working in Indiana for 6 years and with the Friends of Africa Mission in Zaire and Kenya for 4 years as a nurse anesthetist. She is survived by three brothers: Kenneth, Chester, and Ernest and predeceased by two brothers: Homer, Robert, and her sister Marjorie Imhausen.

While she was busy taking care of four children she was active in her local Methodist Church: singing in the choir, participating in Intercessory prayer groups; Sunday School and worship in Naperville, IL, Bloomington IN, and Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin IN. She was very involved in caring ministries: Stevens Ministries and United Methodist Women. In 1982 she trained to be a Hospice Volunteer in DuPage County, Illinois. This was challenging, but very rewarding.

She was fond of painting scenes from Africa, making pottery and quilting. She and Dr. White volunteered at the Red Bird Mission in Beverly Kentucky from 1984-1989. There she continued to do pottery and volunteered in the Medical Center as a clerk while Charles worked as a physician. She made her first bed quilt in 1993. She stated at one of the quilt shows she participated in: “When I signed up for Mildred Mason’s quilt class, I had no intention of making bed quilts. I just wanted to learn how to put together wall hangings. But I got hooked!” Mabel’s mother made many quilts in her lifetime, as did her mother.

Family and friends may gather from 4-8 p.m., Friday, November 6, 2015 at Jones Family Mortuary, Mooresville and 9-10 a.m., Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Franklin United Methodist Community, 1070 W. Jefferson St., Franklin. Chaplain David Lee will officiate Mabel's celebration of Life Service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2015. Mabel will be laid to rest in West Newton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Red Bird Mission: donate from their secure website http://rbmission.org/ or by mail: check payable to Red Bird Mission, Inc., Red Bird Mission, 70 Queendale Center, Beverly, KY 40913-9607

You are invited to light a virtual candle and send a message to the family via the internet. www.jonesfamilymortuary.com

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