Blanche B. Blankenship

Blanche Blankenship Our beautiful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Blanche Blankenship passed over on October 23, 2012. Blanche was raised in Orick at the mouth of Redwood Creek and in all her 95 years she only lived away from Orick for a short while. She moved to Arcata to attend high school and went on to graduate from Humboldt State College in l939 where she was president of the senior class. She was one of the earliest Yurok women to graduate from college. Blanche loved working with children and taught school in Scotia, Hoopa, Stockton and Big Lagoon. She was dedicated to her church, her Tribe, her family and her community. She spent many years traveling all over the world with her good friends. She was a member of the Yurok Tribe and the first woman president of the Humboldt County Farm Bureau. Blanche was an early member of Women in Timber, member of the Yurok Tribe Culture committee, the Orick Presbyterian Church, the Humboldt County Cattlewomen, the Orick Rodeo committee and the Orick Chamber of Commerce. Blanche and her husband ran a trucking business and cattle ranch for many years. Blanche was always glad to see you and often had warm cookies or berry pie on the counter along with a smile to greet you. She was a lady of courage, intelligence and a gentle heart. She recently said that in her heart she believed that the reason she had lived for 95 years was to be able to be a part of the Jump Dance at Cha pekw. In her 95 years in this world she touched many people and made our world a better place. Blanche was preceded in death by her parents Eunice and Ed White and Bill Brown; her husband Harry Blankenship; sister, Elinor Smith; brothers, Emil White and Beeb White. She is survived by her sister Clara Anne Dawson of Colorado, her daughters Judy Misch (Tony) and Tene Kremling (Leroy); her grandsons Byron Frick (Kimberly) and Ken Frick (Samantha); great-grandchildren Magen Gray (Josh), Zack Frick and Mackenzie Frick and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from Washington to New Mexico. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 30th, at 11 am at Paul's Chapel in Arcata, followed by private graveside services. Everyone is invited to a celebration of Blanche's life at approximately 2:30 at the Orick Community Hall. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Lara, Walt Lara, Bob Blankenship, Steve Frick and Dr. Mark Ott. Zack Frick, Robbie Melvin, Billy Joe Allen, David White, Howard White, Joe Hufford, Larry Hendrix, Ron Barlow, Will Einman and Larry Zuber will be pallbearers. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Orick Presbyterian Church, the Orick School scholarship fund at PO Box 236, Orick, or Hospice of Humboldt.

Care is under the direction of Paul's Chapel, Arcata, California. Please visit www.paulschapel.com to leave condolences or messages for the family