Monthly Archives: January 2018

Mary Edith (Heavner) Blanche: Class of 1949

Mary Blanche The Trona Days from Robert Blanche on Vimeo.

Mary Edith Blanche

Salem – February 26, 1930 – January 16, 2018

Mary Blanche passed peacefully of natural causes. Mary was born in Los Angeles, California, to Edith and Lester Heavner. Mary had two older sisters, Lucille and Sonia, and a younger brother Clinton. At 15 she moved with her family to Trona, in California’s Mohave desert. Mary loved the desert and told many stories of her teen years there.

In 1948 she eloped with Richard Blanche. She had five children: Richard, Lorraine, Susan, Rosanne and Robert. A stay-at-home mom, she raised her family to be kind, self-sufficient, independent and strong. In 1969 the family moved to Salem, Oregon. There she attained her AA degree at Chemeketa Community College and made the ‘Dean’s List’. She worked for the State of Oregon until retiring in 1991.

Mary was a force of nature with a very determined spirit. Her greatest gift was an ability to see the beauty, strength and weakness in each of us, and without judgment, to provide advice unique to each individual. She genuinely loved people, and they responded to her warmth and wisdom. Mary loved animals, liked to cook, enjoyed traveling with her family, and liked games, game shows and comedies.

Mary is survived by: son Richard Blanche, daughter Susan (Rex) Kappler, daughter Rosanne (Geoff) Parks, son Robert (Christine) Blanche, and daughter Lorraine’s partner Mark Gillespie and ex-husband Joseph May. She leaves nine grandchildren: Marcie (Rodney) Maret, Amie (Michael) Hyatt, Rachel Blanche, Jessica and Justin Kliewer, Hayley (Ike) McGinnis, Emily and Audrey Blanche, and Carly (Tyler) Snow. She has nine great-grandchildren: R.J. Blanche; Jacob, Celeste, Devin and Alexis Hyatt; Drake and Konner Maret; Jayden and Jayna Alvarez; and one great-great grandchild (Isaiah Hyatt). She also leaves four nieces, three nephews and their spouses and children. She dearly loved us all.

Mary made the world a better place – she will be forever carried in the hearts of many. 

Published in Statesman Journal on Jan. 23, 2018

Mary would have been in the class of 1949 if she had not dropped out of school in the 8th grade. She worked in the Trona Coffee shop with her father until she eloped with Richard Blanche.

To read more about Mary read:

http://www.ridgecrestca.com/news/20180207/she-liked-desert-flowers-former-trona-resident-mary-blanche-dead-at-87

SYLVIA (CHAVARRIA) DELGADILLO: CLASS OF 1953

Age 83, of Palmdale passed away on January 13, 2018. She was born in Trona, Calif. on January 3, 1935. She was married to Juan Delgadillo for 55 years. Sylvia is survived by two children, Melissa Williams and Rosemary Columna (Ernesto); five grandchildren, Kamryn, Grant, Addyson, Pierce and Isabella. 3 brothers and a sister also survive her. Her husband Juan, daughter Nadeen and son-in-law Glen Williams precede her in death. She will be truly missed by her family and friends. A viewing will be held at Our Lady’s Chapel next to Saint Junipero Serra Parish, Quartz Hill, at 9:00 am, Wednesday, January 24, 2018. A mass will be held following viewing at 10:00 am.
Interment will follow mass at Good Shepard Cemetery, Lancaster, CA  

Published in The Antelope Valley Press on Jan. 21, 2018

Gary Norton – Class of 1956

Gary Norton went to school in Trona until the 6th grade. After that he visited Trona many times during the summer. Gary passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2018.

 Services will be Friday, February 2, at 10:4510:15, at .Riverside national memorial cemetery ,reception just inside the  entry.

http://obituaries.desertsun.com/obituaries/thedesertsun/obituary.aspx?n=walter-gary-norton&pid=187815311&fhid=29972

Cathy Goodman – Class of 1956

(Catherine Goodman/Brooks) passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2018.

On January 14, 2018 Catherine went home to be with the lord. She was born in Coalinga, CA on September 16, 1937 to Walter and Bonnie Goodman. Walter was an oilfield worker and Bonnie had taught school but was a stay at home mom taking care of Catherine and two older sisters Bonnie M. and Avery D. Later a fourth child, Dorothy M., come into the family. Her father was said to have commented that “4 queens beats 3 aces anytime.” All of her childhood family are deceased.

Soon her father was placed in charge of a company oil field, near Maricopa, Ca and the moved to a company home on the lease. Later tragedy struck the family when her father died suddenly. Faced with the task of supporting herself and 4 girls, her mother needed to return to school to complete the courses need to re-instate her teaching credentials. During this time the 4 girls were placed in the David and Margaret school for girls in La Vern, CA

Upon getting her teaching credentials updated her mother moved them to a home she purchased on King St. in Bakersfield, Ca. When the older girls reached the dating age her mother felt more comfortable taking teaching jobs in smaller communities where she believed she could better watch her girls. She moved to Frazier Park, Ca and taught school there for several years. After the two older girls had married the mother took a teaching position in Trona, CA , and moved there with the two remaining girls.

Catherine and sister Dorothy both attended Trona High school. Catherine married a local boy and had three children. Dorothy and Valerie Brooks still reside in Trona, while her son Brian Brooks resides with his family in Forsyth, Georgia.

In 1976 Catherine had divorced and moved to Las Vegas, where she earned a real estate license. While attending a real estate conference she met a young man and re-married. By 1981 the marriage and fallen apart and Catherine moved to Upland, Ca where she worked at various sales jobs. Eventually she returned to her real estate profession and sold new homes for the J.M. Peters company located in Southern California.

Eventually, she met and Married Stan Andersen who resided in Washington State.

Catherine could not get the desert out if her soul and she and Stan bought a home in Trona and lived part time on the desert and part time in Washington State.

They sold their home in Trona and moved to Ridgecrest where they were residing when she passed away.

She is survived by her husband Stanly Andersen, her daughters Dorothy and Valerie Brooks of Trona and her son Brian Brooks of Forsyth Georgia. She has 9 Grand children, 14 great grand children and 3 great, great grand children.

On Feb. 10th at about noon family and friends will meet to celebrate Catherine’s life. Directions are: From intersection of Drummond street and Norma drive North on Norma about 2 blocks, turn right at big Rodeway Inn sign, Then go to Heritage club house at end of street.