Elijah ‘Scratcher’ White Jr. (1935-2013)

WINDHAM – Elijah “Scratcher” White Jr., of Windham, passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013.

He was born on Sept 1, 1935 in Mexico, a son of Helen and Elijah “Tiger” White Sr. Elijah grew up in Carthage.

Carrying on the White tradition set by his dad and uncles, Elijah spent his life as a fourth generation logger and small business man. He began at age 8 peeling fir trees for 10 cents a tree and in his teens he worked in the Carthage Sawmill and for Frank Rossi cutting trees.

At age 16 he joined the Army National Guard and at 17 he joined the Air Force for four years, where he learned to be a mechanic. When his brother Wayne returned home from the Army they started a logging company, E & W White. Elijah finished his logging career last year working alongside his son Lance White in their company E & L Logging.

Elijah was inducted into the Loggers Hall Of Fame in Rangeley on July 29, 2011. He enjoyed spending time with family and watching sports, and what he enjoyed most recently was traveling the country with his love Sue Cousens playing in poker and cribbage tournaments. He earned a Masters Award in the American Cribbage Congress in 2010.

He survived many life-threatening injuries like rabies (first to use penicillin in Rumford), gunshot (hunting accident), broken neck and back (logging accident), and salmonella (medical mystery).

Elijah is survived by his Love, Sue Cousens of Windham; his siblings: Wayne White and wife Emmy, Gloria Ellis and husband Ron, and Ronnie White of Carthage; Meredith Robbins and husband Randy of Dixfield, Doreen Smith and her husband Dean of Tennessee; his children: Jo Spielvogel and husband Stephen of Virginia, Laurie McCabe and husband Dennis of California, Rosemary Deckard and husband Brian of Kentucky, Lance White and wife Tess of Dixfield; his stepchildren: Gloria Wilkins of Wilton, Michael Rice of East Dixfield, and Gena Flagg of Farmington; and his 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Elijah was predeceased by his parents, his sister Marie Conant of Waterville, his children Elijah White III and Ladonna White, and his stepchildren Terry Rice, and Ricky Rice.

Condolences and tributes may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.

Public memorial services will be held at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 42 Weld Street, Dixfield on Friday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Eva Thompson, officiating. Interment will be in the spring at the Newman Cemetery in Carthage. The family suggests that those who desire consider memorial gift’s in Elijah’s memory to the Rangeley Logging Museum, PO Box 154, Rangeley, ME, 04970.