Blanche M. Blanche Riley Smith

Blanche was an expressive, optimistic, and loving woman in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Blanche, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Blanche mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Blanche was born on December 26, 1944 in the living room of her home in El Rito, New Mexico. Her parents were A. J. and Stella Riley. Blanche was raised in El Rito and Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a child, Blanche had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly.

      Always a good playmate, Blanche was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles and the incessant teasing of her loving but rascally brothers. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Blanche had twelve siblings. She had four sisters, Joan, Stella, Bernice, and Glenna and eight brothers, Rowan, Sonny, John, Dick, Pat, Ralph, Paul and Gene. Her sisters and brothers, their spouses and children were an everpresent focus of her admiration, love and devotion.

      All of Blanche's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Blanche experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. In her spare time she loved to read.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Blanche liked school. Blanche enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. Blanche was a good student and she really did enjoy her school experience. Like all of us she enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was English. She was an enthusiastic and fun-loving student. Blanche graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1963.

      The gifts of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate combined with a sparkle in her eyes and a swing in her step made Blanche irresistible. On March 8, 1969 Blanche exchanged wedding vows with Alan Smith at the Kirtland Air Force Base Chapel in Albuquerque. For forty-two years they were an inseparable couple and she was an outstanding wife, caring mother, loving friend and exemplary military spouse.

      Blanche was blessed with two children, two sons, Patrick and Scott. They were also blessed with one grandchild, Victoria. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. She could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. On those cold winter days and evenings in Germany and Virginia, she would cuddle with her boys and read their favorite adventure stories or play fun and creative games and crafts. But all was not play as she assigned them daily chores to ensure they learned the responsibilities to family.

      At work, as in life, Blanche was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Blanche's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Blanche as an excellent and creataive problem solver. Her primary efforts were devoted to supporting the military community and a homemaker. She supported several Air Force Airmen's Gift Shops, wives' clubs in addition to serving as a Den Mother, Hospital Volunteer, American Heart Association Volunteer and School Volunteer.

      Blanche enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Blanche liked creating and making things. She enjoyed reading, needlepoint, knitting and stained glass work. Blanche was content to enjoy her hobbies but was also willing to share her interests with others by teaching her passion and skills.  It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. Blanche nutured her family through adventures and challenges around the world as they lived in Texas, Virginia, California, Maryland, West Germany, US Territory of Guam, New Mexico, and Nevada. Additionally she travelled to England, France, East Germany, Italy, Spain and Mexico.

      Blanche passed away as the result of a sudden stroke on July 20, 2011 at St Rose Dominican Hospital-Sienna Campus. She is survived by husband Alan, sons Patrick and Scott; granddaughter Victoria; sisters Joan, Glenna; brothers John, Pat, Ralph, Gene and eighteen nieces, sixteen nephews and father-in-law, Hugh. Blanche's ashes will be returned to God's Universe.

      Blanche brought joy to all of those around her. Her deep love for her family, and friends, her capacity to forgive, along with compassion and an overarching kindness were the tenets that guided her life. She loved life and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She will be remembered with boundless love and a smile.