Marquis Henry White was born November 13, 1925, to Lizzie V.L. Randall and Stephen Reagan White. He died February 28, 2023, after a long and productive life.

Marquis is preceded in death by his parents, V.L. and Reagan White, as well as his beloved first son, Mark Reagan White. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Fannie Jean Cowart White. He is also survived by daughter Patty Combs and husband Charles, Mark's wife, Joni White, son Jerry White and friend Mary Ann; grandchildren Audra White Franklin and husband Tim, Joseph White and wife Madison, Reagan White and fiancée Ishara McAdams, and Kyle White and wife Julie; great-grandchildren Tillman Henry White, Cayden James White, and Xavier Estrada. He was also "Paw" to the Quan children - Christy, Cindy, David, and Daniel. Although an only child, Marquis was actively involved with his extended family - the White's, Randall's, and Cowart's. He was known, loved, and appreciated by a host of family members.

Marquis was born and raised in the Kittrell Community of Walker County, Texas. The land where he was raised was bought from a Spanish Land Grant in 1858 by his great-grandfather Tillman Bailey White who migrated to Texas from South Carolina. This land, to date, has been in the White family name for 165 years. This gave Marquis a sense of pride. His great-grandchildren are seventh generation Texans.

Marquis was educated in the country school in Kittrell and attended high school in Trinity, Texas. Following graduation, he went into the United States Army during the midst of World War II. He fought in France and Germany. Following the end of the war in Europe, he was made an MP and assigned to guard General Eisenhower's headquarters in Germany. He was a proud Veteran and member of the VFW. His great-great-grandfather, Robert White, fought in the American Revolutionary War in Virginia and his grandfather, Stephen Henry White , was a veteran of the Civil War.

Upon returning home, Marquis decided to make law enforcement his career and joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as a highway patrolman. He proudly served in that capacity for 11 years. He was then recruited by the Director of the Texas Prison System, O.B. Ellis, to join their ranks as Field Major at the Eastham Unit, just down the road from his "homeplace" in Kittrell. He worked hard and he and Fannie Jean raised their family there for 22 years until he retired in 1980 with 34 years of state service. During a portion of his time at Eastham, Marquis served as the president of the TDC chapter of the Texas Public Employees Association.

Kittrell remained an integral part of his life. During is 43 years of retirement, Marquis was at "The Place" almost daily until the past few years. He raised cattle, harvested hay and raised gardens, working hard and enjoying life where his family has lived for generations.

Most importantly, Marquis was a man of great faith. He was a member of the country church in Kittrell, the First Baptist Church in Huntsville, and for decades, he was a member of the Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church in Trinity. He served as Deacon at Dorcas Wills for 40 years until advanced age curtailed those duties.

Funeral Service will be held at Dorcas Wills on Friday, March 3, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers are Marquis' grandsons Joseph White, Reagan White, Kyle White, and three nephews Clay Cowart, Stephen Cowart, and Dean Cowart.