Roger Lee White

October 29, 1947 - March 11, 2022

Roger Lee White took his last ride March 11, 2022, from his home in Port Orange, FL. Most likely telling the drivers where to go along the way. When the wellness officer informed my sister of his demise, she responded with "you better check again - this isn't the first time he's been pronounced dead." With bewilderment, the officer did as asked and validated that this time, it was in fact correct. Roger is no longer with us. For anyone and everyone that knew or met Roger, all had the same opinion: what a great guy, albeit very different. It was his way and Roger was unapologetic for how he was. Most agreed that God broke the mold after his birth. Being born in rural Kentucky to the late Lum White and Beulah Mae White on October 29, 1947, Roger grew up in a time where there wasn't much money. He spent his life working just hard enough to pay bills but also left himself enough time and a little money to enjoy life and the things it had to offer. Roger was a lifelong storyteller, motorcycle rider, volunteer and worked as a construction superintendent. He loved to talk and tell stories. For anyone that was part of any story, you could be sure the story would grow a life of its own, gaining complexities not realized at the time and turning into what's commonly called a "tall tale" mixed with just enough truth that it was almost believable, mostly embellished but always more entertaining with each telling. From a young age, Roger defied odds and spit in the face of health professionals and their "opinions" or "predictions." He was told he would never walk without braces: he walked most of his life without braces! He was pronounced dead but lived another 51 years! He had a quadruple bypass and given 6 to 10 years to live. He lived 20 more years. He went blind in one eye but still golfed, bowled and even rode his motorcycle from Florida to Alaska and back without the benefit of depth perception. His heart doctor told him on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst, he was a 12 and shouldn't be able to make it out of her office. He not only walked out but he did so while cussing her out… and lived another 5+ years to boot. I always felt sorry for the doctors and nurses that assisted him but I can say he always made them happy: when he left! That was Roger. He did many great things, being awarded the Kentucky Colonel and Kentucky Admiral in 1967, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky at only 19 years old. Strangely enough, that was one subject he never discussed so it's a mystery for how he became a Colonel and Admiral at the tender age of 19. He did one time hint that it had something to do with animal husbandry or volunteer fire fighting. We could never put that combination together into anything meaningful that didn't leave you scratching your head. Roger was active in Little League Baseball in both leadership roles and being an Umpire. He was honored by being selected to Umpire the Little League World Series. For many years, Roger built wooden toys for family and started a volunteer "Toys for Tots" building workshop at a local mall. In partnership with the United States Marine Corps, he and others hand built toys for the less fortunate children of the local community. He really found his passion at the age of 48 and started the Daytona Beach Drill Team in 1995. Actively participating in both the Harley Owners Group and the Drill Team for over 30 years, Roger traveled all over the United States showing off his riding skills in performances or clinics. For a good many years, Roger taught motorcycle safety and riding skills, time he loved immensely. He particularly loved to show up big, burly bikers with both his ability to ride his full dresser Harley in 6 foot circles but also poking fun when he'd "accidentally" drop his bike. That was so he could bet them he could pick it up alone or get a small girl to do it for him. After all, he was an old, limping, crimpled man that could barely see. And he had one of the only handicap motorcycle tags in Florida. How could he ever pick up a 600-pound bike alone? But he did and he did so with his classic grin. He never lost those bets. Left to bicker over his real estate, truck, fine furniture and rusty tools are his children; Diana, Daniel, Denise and Dustin. We were amazed at the friendliness of his neighborhood. We left all kinds of donations on the side of the road to include a furry hambone from last year. The neighbors took it ALL off our hands in a single night. How nice they must be and excited to prepare that treasure. To his grandkids, he went by Papaw. The true Southern version of Grandpa or Granddad. Anytime he visited, he would get up early to trash our kitchen while putting in his expertise into making biscuits and gravy. While we hated the mess he left in his wake, we loved his biscuits and gravy and most of his other cooking as well. Roger was a good cook and studied it for hours on end by watching the Cooking Channel. Roger is survived by Devin, Brandon, Chance, Tyler, Abigail, Corbin and Emily - all his grandchildren that called him Papaw. After Roger finally got too old to ride, he bought a scooter…. And then another full-sized bike. What he was thinking is beyond anything any of us that knew him could figure. Roger could be found cruising his neighborhood picking up and charming chicks and talking to neighbors. With his Vertigo being here today and gone tomorrow, he said the dizzying effect of having no balance made cornering more exhilarating. Up until he passed, he owned a full-sized bike and took it for rides from time to time. His neighbor Bryan, had to pick it up a few times and give him a push start. That took Roger back to when he learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels. How Roger made it wherever he rode and back without crashing is the thing that keeps people up at night. Roger's entertaining spirit, dogged determination to beat the odds and live on his terms will dearly be missed. That and his questions that left his kids asking "what is he talking about?" Graveside Services will be held at Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 1:00 pm with Danny Haynes officiating. Visitation will be Monday, April 11, 2022 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Manakee Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. Condolences may be expressed on-line at www.manakeefuneralhome.com