Laudean Blankenship (Blankenship) Cantrell

Mildred Laudean was born in Seymour, Missouri to Montie May (Keeler) and Esley Carl Blankenship on February 17, 1928. Grandma Dean (as her grandkids called her) grew up on a 200-acre dairy farm in Marshfield, Missouri. There were cows to milk, pigs to butcher, blackberries to pick, vegetables to can and a dog named Jack. She grew up without electricity in her home and without an indoor toilet. Eventually electricity was installed and finally plumbing. She never found anyone who could cook biscuits and gravy like her Grandma Obe and the biscuits were always made from scratch. It was no surprise that her Grandma Obe could also catch a chicken and in no time have it cooked and ready for supper. The men in the family always ate first at the table, then the women and kids would eat. The big meal of the day was called dinner and eaten around lunchtime and the left overs were served for supper that night. Everything always tasted better when cooked in bacon grease (hog fat). Saturday was bath day and Grandma Dean got to take her bath first and her brothers (Ronald Wayne and twins Lowell Dean and Noel Gene) used the same bath water for their bath after her.

She graduated from Marshfield High School in 1945. While growing up she became good friends with Lorraine Cantrell-Harmon. After attending college in Springfield with her good friend, Rosalie, she taught school 1 year at High Prairie. Grandma Dean met Grandpa (Fleet Willis Cantrell) at a Pie Supper and they married on April 13,1946 after he returned from serving in the Navy. She was 18 and he was 25.

Grandma Dean and Grandpa had a good life in Bell Gardens, California. Their son, Gary Wayne, was born there and after their son, Randall Carl, was born they moved to Bell, California. Both boys joined the Boy Scouts and their parents became actively involved. Grandma Dean was in the Mothers' Club to help raise money for the troop. Short fishing trips with friends meant the men caught and cleaned the fish while the women did the cooking. She always spoke fondly of a trip to California Hot Springs one year. Several yearly trips back to Marshfield were by car on Route 60 or Route 66. Albuquerque was always the half-way point. Coming home could be by way of Flagstaff to Jerome or a Grand Canyon scenic loop. On the way they did go through Yellowstone and Nebraska once. The last family car trip was for her dad's funeral.

Remodeling of the Bell home began when Grandma Dean's parents came for a visit and started demolishing the kitchen, to Grandpa's surprise when he came home from work one day! He did join in and help eventually. Other remodeling projects were the bathroom and a den was added to the house at a later date. Back then remodeling involved skilled tradesmen doing jobs on each other’s homes to help keep the cost down. Grandma Dean worked as a book binder for 25 years at Pacific Press and retired as an inspector. She and Mary Foster became close friends while working together and shared many sewing techniques with each other, since they both loved to sew. Grandma Dean spent a lot of her free time crocheting, cooking and reading. She completed many afghans and quilts so that each family member received at least one. Grandma Dean was a strong supporter of the Republican Party and voted regularly. Over the years, the family attended First Southern Baptist Church, Bell First Christian Church and then members of Southland Christian Church for 14 years. Her faith was very important to her and she enjoyed staying active within the church community, often helping in the food pantry ministry.

Grandma Dean retired from Pacific Press in 1982. In 1986 Grandpa and Grandma Dean moved to Hemet, California. Grandpa passed away in 1989. Life in Hemet was very different. Grandma Dean looked forward to short rides to the Dominguez Valley Dam with Gary and Jane as it was being built. She also enjoyed trips to Big Bear with Randy, Jan and their kids, to Laughlin with her cousin, Arlene, and especially to the Ontario Outlet where she purchased outfits for herself and her mom. Twice a year she would travel back to Missouri to see her mom and take her new clothes. Once she actually drove back in her red, Mercury Marquis with her niece. Hemet had a few orchards where she could get fresh oranges and a backyard apricot tree provided fruit for canning. Her backyard would eventually include a water fountain which she enjoyed while sitting on her back patio. Several ladies met regularly to share crafting ideas with each other. Eventually Grandma Dean moved to Carson, Ca.in 2011 to be closer to family. Raised beds at her home in Carson produced a bountiful harvest of peppers and tomatoes (large and cherry). She never tired of eating them fresh off the vine.

When she moved into skilled nursing at Artesia Christian Home in 2018, she easily made new friends with roommates, other residents and staff members. Topics of conversation often included life on a farm and her perspectives on life. She had an excellent memory and enjoyed sharing her knowledge with others. She loved playing Skip Bo, having visits and phone calls from friends and family members, going out for a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, visiting with her friend Birdie (a resident there) during meals in the dining room, winning at Bingo, and listening to Western stories read to her. She spoke up at the Residents' Meetings to share compliments and complaints concerning her life at Artesia Christian Home. She had a wonderful relationship with Liz, her social worker. She could not understand why no one else voiced their concerns.

Grandma Dean looked forward to picnic dinners on the patio and tailgate gatherings in the nearby church parking lot. One of her happiest moments was celebrating her 91st birthday with a party in the dining hall at Artesia Christian Home, with her family and friends gathered for her special day. Grandma Dean passed away on October 7, 2022. She fought a brave battle against congestive heart failure. She is survived by her son, Gary, 8 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Memorial Services were held at White's Funeral Home in Bellflower and she was laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery, where Grandpa was buried.

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Mildred Laudean Cantrell was born in Seymour, Missouri to Montie May and Esley Carl Blankenship on February 17, 1928. Her brothers were Ronald Wayne, and twins Lowell Dean and Noel Gene.

Laudean grew up on a 200 acre dairy farm in Marshfield, Missouri. There were cows to milk, pigs to butcher, blackberries to pick, vegetables to can and a dog named Jack.

After attending college in Springfield, where she had Rosalie as her roommate, she taught school 1 year at High Prairie.

Fleet Willis Cantrell met her at a Pie Supper and they married on April 13, 1946 after he returned from the Navy. She was 18 and he was 25.

They were living in Bell Gardens, Ca. when they had two sons: Gary Wayne and Randall Carl.

She and her neighbor got jobs making glass ashtrays. Then they both became book binders at Pacific Press. Laudean became an inspector while working there and met Mary Foster, who taught her lots of sewing techniques.

In 1986 Fleet and Laudean moved to Hemet, Ca. Her cousin, Arlene, lived near-by. Fleet passed away in 1989. She moved to Carson, Ca. in 2011 and became a resident of Artesia Christian Home in 2018.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitesmortuary.com for the Cantrell family.