Pierce H. (P.H.) White Jr., 77, Dyer County civic leader, cattleman and entrepreneur, passed away on June 11 at his home in Dyersburg. He spent his life in service to his family, his church, and his community, contributing generously of his abundant energy and creative ideas to many endeavors.

P.H. graduated from University of Tennessee College of Agriculture and was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He devoted much of his career to raising registered Hereford cattle and to advancing that breed by serving as director and president of the American Hereford Association.

In addition to being a successful cattleman, P.H. led Dyer County as county executive for 12 years. Since the early 1970s, P.H. has operated a flourishing company to manufacture and sell the Cow-Life Cattle Rub, one of numerous products he personally invented and patented. He served on the Board of Directors of First Citizens National Bank for over 30 years.

Boy Scouts of America benefited from P.H.'s lifetime involvement. As a former Eagle Scout and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, P.H. served on the first staff at Camp Mac Morris in the 1940s, was scoutmaster of Troop 87 for 18 years, and president of the West Tennessee Council. For the past 25 years he has organized and hosted the annual "Seafeasters" fundraiser to benefit scouting.

He was a lifelong, devoted member of First United Methodist Church, president of its Wesley Homes ministry, and a loyal member of the Sellers Sunday School Class. As past president of the Dyersburg Noon Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow, he founded and chaired the annual Rural-Urban Day.

A descendant of the Todd and Burgie families who were early settlers of Dyer County in the 1840s, P.H. is survived by his wife of 55 years, Polly Webb White, their four children, Nancy White Bryan of Arlington, Va.; Marion White Tilson of Atlanta, Ga.; Sally White Veith of Alexandria, Va.; and Dr. Pierce H. White III of Dyersburg, as well as 10 grandchildren.

P.H.'s numerous philanthropic interests include the West Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America and First United Methodist Church of Dyersburg.

The family will receive visitors on Sunday, June 14 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church of Dyersburg. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church on Monday, June 15 at 11 a.m.