Anita W. Blackie-Price

Anita was born Anita Jeane Wehe, July 20, 1932 in Prescott, Arizona, to Helen and Edwin Wehe, their only child. Growing up during the depression and World War II, she embraced those traditional values of family, faith, generosity, hard-work, personal responsibility, and understood the cost of freedom. Her father, Edwin, was fortunate to have a stable job during the depression, working as an insurance adjustor for Sante Fe Railroads. Through her father, she developed a life-long love of railroads. Anita has fond memories of her years in Prescott, and always considered Prescott her “home town.”

Her father’s work required the family to move often during her childhood. At age 10, they moved to Fresno, where she developed several life-long friendships and often spoke fondly of her memories there.

Eventually, the family settled down in Glendale, where Anita attended Herbert Hoover High School. She graduated in 1949 as a proud “49er.” She attended college at Pepperdine, Occidental, and eventually UCLA, where she graduated with a teaching credential in 1954 and eventually got a master’s degree in education.

While at UCLA, she met Richard Alan Blackie on a group outing to Balboa Island. They dated and were married in August, 1956. Their first son, James, was born in January 1958. Jeffrey was born in July 1960 and Jonathan in October 1962. The family moved several times in those early years, and Anita definitely had her hands full with three energetic young boys.

Eventually the family settled in La Canada, and lived there until 1968 when the 210 freeway expansion forced them to move again. The Blackies moved to Costa Mesa where Jim, Jeff, and Jon all went to local schools, made friends, and have fond memories of growing up in their Swan Circle home.

After the move to Orange County, Anita got a teaching position at Wilson Elementary School in Santa Ana, where she worked until retiring in 1994. At first, the job was to supplement the family income, but when Richard died tragically in 1972, Anita was suddenly the sole bread winner. With three strapping teenage boys and bills to pay, Anita did a heroic job of holding the family together. For example, she always made sure there was a summer family vacation the boys could look forward to and enjoy, and every payday was an out to dinner celebration!

Anita met Edward Price in 1983 while both were volunteering at the Orange County Fair, and they were married in 1985. Anita moved into Ed’s home in Orange and they spent the next 37 years traveling and enjoying a very active social life. Anita was an especially avid world-traveler, making trips to Easter Island, China, Japan, India, several trips to Europe and South America, and even the icy continent of Antarctica. Anita’s most memorable trip was probably the Trans-Siberian Railroad through Russia and Mongolia. Ed and Anita also made many motor-home trips back and forth across the United States during their retirement years. In addition to traveling, Anita continued to substitute in Santa Ana for many years and was also an active docent for Bowers Museum. She and Ed were also active members in their Church in Orange, and the monthly “Gourmet Club,” meeting, with its often exotic dining themes, was a highlight that spanned decades! Imagine a “Wizard of Oz” or “Route 66” gourmet club evening!

With her marriage to Ed, Anita gained a stepson, Edward B. Price. Then, during a three-year span in the late 80’s, Anita finally gained the daughters she never had. Jim married Kelly, Jeff married Laura, and Jon married Leslie. Seven grandchildren soon followed.

Ed and Anita moved to Laguna Woods in 2019 and quickly fell in love with this beautiful community. Anita became active in several clubs and Saddleback Church, and made many friends here in the Village.

Edward, her husband of 37 years, passed away peacefully in February 2023 at age 98. He is proudly remembered as a World War II veteran, as part of a B-29 support crew in the Pacific. After Ed’s death, Anita continued her active social schedule, until her own passing just a few weeks ago.

Anita will be remembered for many admirable qualities, such as her resiliency through life’s surprise challenges and hardships. She always managed to deal with life’s difficulties realistically and find a way through the hardship. Anita had a passion for cherished friendships and planning activities to enrich those friendships. Her gift of making friends, planning engaging social events, and channeling her abundant creative energy into productive and memorable group experiences is a model to us all.

And most importantly, Anita was tirelessly and fiercely devoted to her family. She was kind, generous, loving, and always our first cheerleader, with a dear mother’s passion for her children’s safety, happiness, and success. I know I speak for my brothers, our wives, and the grandchildren, when I say that we felt and experienced Anita’s love, kindness, and generosity, and that we will dearly miss her and always hold her dear in our hearts.

As mentioned, Anita is survived by her three sons, Jim, Jeff, and Jon, along with their wives, Kelly, Laura, and Leslie, as well as Edward’s son, Edward. She has seven grandchildren, Jennifer, Jordan, Dylan, Lindsay, Berea, Stuart, and Josiah.

Mom, you are a shining example of a life-well-lived. Thank you, and I will look forward to reuniting with you in heaven someday.

This tribute is posted on the Fairhaven Memorial website and there is a space for comments if you’d like to post a memory.