Blanche Willard

Funeral service for Blanche Willard will held 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2009 at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery Chapel with Kenna Rose officiating. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. There will also be a service at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2009 at Pioneer Manor Blanche Beck Memorial Chapel with Sister Carol Metchenberg and Sister Barbara Schlattman officiating. Blanche Willard, age 99, ninety-two year Campbell County resident, passed away peacefully March, 3, 2009 at Pioneer Manor Nursing Home. Blanche Willard was born October 10, 1909 in Rule, Texas to Scott O. and Mildred Mittie (Littleton.) New. The family moved to Campbell County Wyoming by train in 1917 and homesteaded fifteen miles west to Gillette. Blanche and her two brothers and four sisters attended rural school as did three cousins who joined the family after their mothers death. Blanche graduated from Campbell County High School. On September 23, 1932 she married Ed . Willard. For the first seven years they lived at the KC Ranch where he was foreman for W.R. Wright. In 1939 they moved to his homestead known as the Turkey Track ranch, 50 miles south of Gillette, where they raised their 2 daughters. In 1966, they retired to Gillette, they enjoyed traveling, visiting many foreign countries including Tahiti, New Zealand, England, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Canada, Russia, Mexico as well as Hawaii and Alaska. She was known for her beautiful flowers and yard and a well-ordered house, her angel food cakes and her hot Parker House rolls. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church, Campbell County Woolgrowers Auxiliary, Campbell County Cattlewomen, sewing and bridge clubs and P.E.O. Chapter V. Blanche is survived by her daughters, Bernice (Urban) Groves, Wright Wyoming; Edra (Jim) Drake of Phoenix Arizona; grandsons, Tony Groves, James Drake Jr., Joel Groves, Tom Groves, Marshall Drake and granddaughters, Joy Drake Schumacher, Leigh Drake, Roxanne Groves Keeling. One brother John Ed New of Solano Beach California; a marine veteran who survived the sinking of the West Virginia at Pearl Harbor. She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother and four sisters including Alice Bates and LaVerne Cook, both of Gillette. Memorials in Blanches name may go to Pioneer Manor Nursing Home, Bryce Groves Medical Fund, or a charity of your choice. Memorials and condolences and be sent in care of Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences can also be sent via the internet at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com