I'll try to answer some of these the best I can. Andrea Jerri White has never been declared deceased so information about her is often times classified to all but law enforcement. She dissapeared before social media was a thing and her, now adult, children are picking up where her aging family left off. They have all been very proactive about this case and have gone as far as to interview Wayne Adam Ford about his possible involvement. Ford denies having ever been in the area or kidnapping a woman fitting Miss White's description. His routes were verified by investigators and it is unlikely they crossed paths.
As far as her personal history there was no one who benefitted from her disappearance and she is very, very missed. The father of her children, referenced above, I believe is deceased and the kids were raised by the White family.
To further elaborate on what is known, Miss White had attended court to follow up on a court order. There was no public transit in the Eastern Humboldt area at the time and she had only procured a ride to the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka, California (off Highway 101).
Making her way back home requires her to travel North on 101 to access the Highway 299 cutoff at Arcata, California. Blue Lake, California is the last town on 299 for 32 miles East until reaching Willow Creek, California where she would access Highway 96 to go 11 miles North to Hoopa, California.
Multiple witnesses place her hitchhiking from Highway 299 near Blue Lake, California. To enter the town of Blue Lake you must take an off ramp and drive away from the main course so it is likely she was standing next to SR-299 itself to be visible.
The Sheriff Investigator at that time now holds seat as the County Coroner. He is aware of the case, has met the family but considers it a cold case. The current County Sheriff and his predecessor have been made aware of the case and agree to keep it open and communicate with the family about potential leads.
Due to Humboldt's own Wayne Adam Ford and similar incidents involving missing Humboldt Women being recovered in other areas of California it has long been speculated that Miss White may have been taken unaware by a passing motorist.
To add: Miss White was a very petite woman, barely 5' tall, her frame could easily be mistook for a teenager. She is Native American, but passable as a Latina due to her light complexion. A dna and dental profile is available.