Blanche I Devore

It is our pleasure to celebrate Blanche DeVore’s 95 beautiful years of life. Blanche went to heaven early in the morning on August 20, 2011. Blanche entered this world on December 6, 1915, born in Edison Nebraska to the parents of Charles and Sarah Roberts. She is one of nine children, 3rd oldest, all girls except for Doyle her younger brother. In February 1930 her family decided to move to Colorado; they shipped the livestock, farm machinery, equipment, and household goods by freight car to Wray. The family came by car arriving in Vernon on February 8, 1930. It required several trips by wagon and horses to move the farm machinery and other goods to the farm southwest of Vernon. They lived 3 miles south and % mile west of Vernon on the old Arch Wakefield place. She went to grade school at Prairie Ridge and attended 3 years of high school in Vernon. She did not graduate from high school because she got tired of walking and riding horses or imposing on someone to give her a ride. Blanche met the love of her life, Harold DeVore, while Harold and his brother Perry helped pick corn for Blanche’s parents in 1931. The peace that lives within all of our family today is that Blanche and Harold are reunited. She married Harold on January 1, 1935, a great day for an anniversary…no better way to celebrate the New Year than another year of happiness. In 1936, Blanche and Harold moved into the house next to the “DeVore Garage.” Blanche became a mother on January 17, 1938 to a daughter, Janice DeVore. Eight years later on August 1, 1945, she was SHOCKED with the birth of twin daughters, Leona Mae and lona Rae DeVore. In Feb 1948, Blanche suffered a very sad time in her life; she gave birth to a stillborn son, David Eugene DeVore. Late in Blanche’s pregnancy, she had gotten the mumps which was thought to be the cause of his death. Blanche’s grandchildren and great grandchildren are amazed that she raised three children in that house with no running water, which obviously meant that they had to use an outhouse, In May of 1951 Blanche became the Vernon Postmaster in the old bank building in Vernon which is no longer standing. She moved the Vernon Post Office into the building where it is located today in 1953, she shared the building with the previous owner of a small grocery store. In 1961 she took over ownership of the store, where many people remember stopping to get a cold pop and candy bar while picking up their mail. Many of you can hear the sound of the screen door banging and the creaking of the old wood floors as Blanche came out to greet you; you would have found a tiny clerk’s window and the 40 old time letter boxes with their alphabet combination locks.., a treasured memory. In September 1999, Blanche retired after 49 years of being the Vernon Postmaster. Blanche struggled with retirement because she missed the everyday interactions with her Vernon community family. She continued to live in Vernon until October 2009, her health forced her to move to Wray in order to be closer to Leona and her grandchildren. Being the adaptable person she was, she came to love her little apartment on St.; she grew to love watching the traffic going by and the children walking to school. In April 2011, Blanche knew her time had come to move to Hillcrest Care Center where she departed this life. Blanche made friends wherever she went, which was true at the end of her life as well. She will be truly missed at Hillcrest where she was known for saying, “everybody needs a hug today!” Our family is greatly appreciative for the excellent care she received while at Hillcrest.Blanche was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church. She had a very strong faith, a woman not of many words but always believed in her Lord and Savior. She hardly missed a Sunday at church, until her health caused her not to attend. Blanche loved working in her yard, she had a “war on weeds,” and spent many hours quilting and sewing. She was 83 years old when she made her last quilt for her two great grandchildren. But Blanche’s biggest and most cherished accomplishment was her family. Her favorite family time gathering was during the summer having a wiener roast at her home in Vernon. Blanche enjoyed swinging on her swing, watching the birds in her bird bath, and enjoying her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren while they roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Her favorite holiday was Easter, and all of her family knew how important it was to her. In fact, the majority of the family celebrated Easter 2011 with her. The focal point of Blanche’s life was her family and the Vernon Community.Blanche had an amazing memory and her mind was always sharp even through the last few days of her life. She kept her mind sharp with her love to read, both books and poetry, and she absolutely loved word search puzzles. She had such a wonderful sense of humor and she never complained. In closing, Blanche lived her life based on a quote that was found in a box of her parents’ belongings, “to be strong in pain; not to desire what is unattainable or worthless; to be content with the day as it comes; to seek the good in everything and to have joy in nature and people, even as they are; for a thousand bitter hours to console one’s self with what is beautiful and in doing and putting forth always to give one’s best even if it brings no thanks, he who learns that and can do that is a happy, free and proud person; their life will always be beautiful.” BLANCHE’S LIFE WAS BEAUTIFUL.Blanche is survived by her daughters, Janice Bower and husband Ralph of Oakridge TN, Leona Olsen and husband Doug, lona Davis and husband Bob, and two sisters; Ruby Robinette of Englewood Colorado and Iris Boyd of Alabama, and a brother in law Pershing DeVore. Her pride and joy: 6 grandchildren Andy Blake and wife Christine of Franklin TN, Jerry Ritchey and wife Michelle, Nicola Strait and husband Bryon, Vicky Briggs and husband Beau, Tonia Roseberry and husband Todd, Linda Naulls and husband Keith; 20 great grandchildren Laura and Jamie Blake, Jerrett Ritchey and wife Brandi, Peyton Ritchey and Porchia Rockwell, LeRae Vigil and husband David, Brittany Ritchey, Derek McClanahan, Mckenzie, Paige, Payton and Mason Strait, Tori, Josi and Novi Briggs, Morgan and Brandon Kock, Dillon and Dalton Roseberry, Lauren and Devon Naulls; 5 great great grandchildren Avery and Allie Ritchey, Parker Ritchey, Lane Cheshire, Conrad Tigner; and her special adopted Ringlein family. Lois Ritchey held a very special place in Blanche’s heart as well. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harold DeVore on February 20, 1988; son David DeVore, her parents Charles and Sarah Roberts, Harold’s parents Robert and Maude DeVore and her heart felt son Sonny Ritchey; sisters Ida Reno, Hazel Alley, Maxine Osmus, Katherine Gordon, Opal Miller and brother Doyle Roberts; numerous brother in laws, sister in laws, cousins, a nephew and many good friends. Funeral Services were held on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 10:00 am at the Wray United Methodist Church. Interment was in the Glendale Cemetery in Vernon, CO. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Wray United Methodist Church, Vernon Community Center or Vernon Volunteer Fire Department. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.