A memorial service is planned next Sunday, Sept. 6, at Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden’s Celebration Garden for West Seattle rose gardener Lori White, who died this week at age 49. Rainy Rose Society president Sue Tiffany asked that we share that information along with Ms. White’s obituary; she says, “Lori White belonged to many rose societies including the Valley Rose Society, the Seattle Rose Society, the Heritage Rose Society, the Rainy Rose Society, and many more. Through her volunteer work Lori helped to fund the continuation of the Celebration Garden. Even when she was horribly ill, Lori would still go to the garden and volunteer her time.Her beautiful smile and valiant spirit will be sorely missed by so many, many who loved her. Lori had the ability to make each person that she spoke with feel like he/she was the most important person in the world. I called her ‘Precious’ and indeed she was.’ The photo above shows Ms. White with local gardening expert Ciscoe Morris and broadcaster Meeghan Black. Read on for her obituary:

Lori L. White – 1960-2009

Lori is survived by her husband, Orville White; father, Robert Gaines; brother, Chad Gaines and her mother-in-law, Juanita White in addition to her brothers- and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Lori and Orville sailed together through life on many great adventures. She was his anchor in stormy weather and for these reasons amongst many others, he loved her so.

Lori worked as a legal assistant for Qwest Corporation and always went above and beyond her work responsibilities to make her co-workers’ lives easier. She touched many lives at Qwest and will be greatly missed by her work family. She is irreplaceable.

Lori is known for her love of dogs and could never imagine life without them. She is also known for her compassion, positive attitude, honesty and service to others.

Lori also loved gardening and especially loved roses. She led the Seattle Rose Society into a partnership with the Highline Botanical Garden Foundation to create the Celebration Garden. Lori was honored as volunteer of the year in 2008 by the foundation. She belonged to many horticultural organizations. She was most active in the Seattle Rose Society where she served a term as President, was an ongoing board member and headed numerous committees. Lori was a Consulting Rosarian and a Horticulture Judge. In addition, she was a gifted photographer and won many competitions with her phenomenal photographs of flowers and flower arrangements. She also took awards for exhibiting roses and for her outstanding editing skills of rose news letters.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations can be made to the family: c/o Robert Gaines 7541 28th Avenue S.W., Seattle, WA 98126.

A memorial service and celebration of Lori’s life will be held on Sunday, September 6th, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Celebration Garden at Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. The location for the garden is adjacent from the SeaTac Community Center, 13735 24th Avenue South, SeaTac. [map] Enter at SeaTac Community Center sign.

Lori will live in our hearts forever. She is missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

(Obituary written by Diane “Scottie” Boman and Lori’s co-workers at Qwest, and by noted Consulting Rosarian Lonnie Garceau.)

If you have an obituary to share in memory of a West Seattleite, we publish them for free – you are welcome to send it to editor@westseattleblog.com.