Meta Cheryl White passed peacefully in her sleep on October 28, 2024, at the age of sixty-seven. Born on September 16, 1957, in Scottsville, Kentucky, to the late Tom White and Marion Hicks White, she had a simple and magical childhood growing up, playing and working on the family tobacco farm.
Cheryl graduated from Allen County High School, attended Western Kentucky University, and finished her degrees in English and Art at The University of Kentucky. During the 80’s, Cheryl was an employee and regional manager of three gift store chains: Coach House, It’s A Small World, and Art Explosion. Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and Florida were her home bases.
In 1987, she opened and managed the very first Disney Store in The Glendale Galleria. Cheryl moved to Mammoth Lakes, California in 1988 on the arm of her first husband, Michael Coffey. He was a charmer, but it’s likely that she married him so she could be with his daughter, the wonderful Eryn Coffey, who is still in Mammoth doing great things.
After their divorce, Cheryl stayed in Mammoth Lakes until 1999. She became a news reporter for the Mono County Review-Herald. Cheryl started up a desktop publishing company, and then invented the Scenic 395 Magazine, which catered to travelers and the tourism industry along the eastern Sierra Nevada.
Cheryl met her future husband, Jeff Putman, in 1990, while working for the newspaper. They fell in love, moved to Lone Pine in 1999 with dogs and cats in tow, and finally married in 2007 in Cambria, California.
Cheryl’s specialty was making any and all feel happy, involved, valued, and cared for. Her open heart extended to all animals as well. Cheryl’s friends in Mammoth Lake, Bishop, and Lone Pine revered her as leader of the pack and a guaranteed source of general hilarity. She in turn considered her mountain and dessert friends the source of her happiness.
If you picture her talking and laughing, you’ve accounted for most of her life – and the rest would be potluck dinners.
Cheryl is survived by her husband and partner of thirty-four years, Jeff Putman; Step-Daughter, Eryn Coffey Caler and husband, Luke; Sisters, Janet Bryant and husband, Mike, and Ann Jones and husband, Billy; and Brother, Mark White. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends also survive. Along with her dear parents, Cheryl was also preceded in death by two of her brothers, Todd White and Thomas White.
A Memorial Service and Inurnment for Metta Cheryl White will take place on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 11 AM from The Haysville Cemetery with Deacon Mike Bryant officiating. Alexander Funeral Home, Directors, in charge of arrangements. 615-666-2189 or www.alexanderfh.com
This obituary was published by Alexander Funeral Home.
This obituary was published by Obituaries provided free for the community.
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