Frances Lenore Waller Blanchard was born on October 5, 1916 in Madera, California and died peacefully August 9, 2017. She became known by her friends as Pat Blanchard. Her goal was to live to 100 years old. She lived more than 10 months beyond her goal.
Pat was preceded in death by Irvin, her loving husband. Others are her parents, Frank and Gladys Waller, and her brothers: Howard, Bob, John, Bev Waller and step-brother Frank Lewis, her son Larry Blanchard and daughter Elaine Capurro.
She is survived by her daughters Nova (Ed) Vuksan and Vina (Dennis) Donaldson and Daughter in law Doris Blanchard. Grandchildren: Debi (Peary) Wood, Jami Blanchard, Lori (Kurtis) Lively, Chad (Amy) Blanchard, Justin M eissner, Casey
{Shawn) Reich, Charlie Maestas, and Tate Morehead. Pat also had 13 great grandchildren, numerous great-great grand children and many nieces and nephews. She was deeply loved by all of her family and will be greatly missed.
In 1925 Pat's parents, Frank and Gladys Waller, moved their family to Fallon, Nevada. That is where Pat later met Irvin Perry Blanchard. On May 28, 1933, they were married.
Pat and Irvin had four children: Larry, Nova Jane, Elaine and Vina. After moving several times, including Washingto n and Idaho, their family settled in Lovelock, Nevada in 1952.
Nova and Vina have fond memories of growing up in a family with devoted parents and a household filled with music. Accompanied on the piano by Pat's mother, Pat loved to sing. They spent hours entertaining the family with their passion for music. Pat was the leading lady in many of the Desert Little Theater musicals as well as performing in many community events through the years. Later she joined the Lovelock Community Singers. To her delight, they sang to her at her 100 Year Party.
of milk and sit in the living room in one of her big chairs by the fireplace and read. "Grandma kept all of the classics in her library just for us kids. Moby Dick, The Boxcar Children and Charlottes Web were my favorite."
Pat' s lifetime dream of becoming a nurse was fulfilled when she became a nurse at the Pershing General Hospital. In 1957 Pat earned her LPN Certificate. After her retirement, she worked as a volunteer for 11 years at the Senior Center.
Later in life when Pat was unable to walk, she kept her mind active by reading for hours while sitting in her wheelchair at the kitchen table. Her love for reading helped her to endure the problems that come with old age.
On February 4, 2016, Pat was admitted in to Pershing General Hospital with an ankle fracture and congestive heart failure. On February 12, she was transferred to the same Nur sing Home that she retired from as nurse in charge. Remembering her former position, sometimes she would give order s to the nurses and check on the residents to see if they needed any thing. The nursing staff lovingly took care of her until she fell asleep in death on August 9, 2017. We are grateful to the entire hospital staff for the quality care they gave our mother through the last year and a half of her life.
Everyone is invited to attend her Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at the Lovelock Community Center at 820 6th Street, across from the Pershing County General Hospital.
Due to many allergies from scented flowers, the family is requesting in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Lovelock Senior Center in her name.
