Neal Perley White

Rev. Neal P. White, 63, of Raymond, NH, died Thursday, December 26, 2013, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH, with his loving family by his side.

He was predeceased by his father and mother, Alfred White and Patricia (Johnson) Hodgdon. Neal Perley White was born November 9, 1950 in Burlington, VT. Raised in Orleans, VT, he graduated from Lake Region High School in 1968. Neal attended Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, VT, receiving his B.S. in Social Sciences in 1975. In 1992, upon graduating from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC, Neal become an ordained minister with the United Methodist Church. Neal then went on to receive a Master of Divinity (MDIV) from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1995.

Before joining the ministry in the 1980's, Neal held positions at Ethan Allen, Butterfield, and as a deputy sheriff. He was also a tanker in the armored division of the Vermont National Guard. One profession that Neal held throughout his entire adult life was firefighting. Neal was a volunteer firefighter in Vermont and New Hampshire. In 2007, after two decades of serving churches in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Downeast Maine, and Massachusetts, Neal began serving the United Methodist churches of Raymond and North Salem, NH where he also held the position of Chaplain for the Raymond fire and ambulance squads.
Neal was a history buff who will be forever remembered for his telling and retelling of stories, his love of food, the railroad, his zany sense of humor, and his bravery and kindness. Neal also loved music, and playing the drums was one of his favorite pastimes.

Neal leaves behind his beloved wife, Sally (Vermette) and their cats; his children, Laura Hurler and partner Russell of Chicopee, MA, Carol Scott and husband Jeremy of Ware, MA, Tammy Baker and husband Bret of Haverhill, MA, son James White and his wife Erica (Bischoff) of Granby, MA. Neal also leaves his brothers, Patrick White of Candia, NH and Peter White of Hanover, NH and seven grandchildren who absolutely adored him.

ARRANGEMENTS: A Memorial Service will be held for Rev. Neal at 1:30 P.M. on January 12, 2014, at the North Salem, NH Methodist Church, 389 North Main St., Salem, NH. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Home, Health, and Hospice, 7 Executive Park Dr., Merrimack, NH 03054 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.