Blanche Elkins Sanders, 88, of Fannett died peacefully on April, 30 2004, after a lengthy illness due to complications from multiple strokes and heart failure. Her only child and loving caregiver, Dianne Sanders Richard of Fannett was at her side.
A gathering of family and friends will be Sunday Evening from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Services will be Monday, May 3, 2004, 11:00 A.M., Broussard’s, Winnie.
A native Texan born July 31, 1915, Blanche was the eldest of three children born to Lucille Rose Sorbet Elkins and Alexander Elijah Elkins, who settled in Jefferson County in 1905. She was a lifetime resident of Fannett and lived at her family home place.
An Avid gardener known to some as “ The Plant Lady”, Blanche spent hours outdoors among flowering plants, shrubs and fruit trees or working her vegetable garden by hand. She kept blooms and cutting vases, bowls and jelly jars throughout her home, always. Anytime she saw a beautiful stand of flowers in any garden, she was not shy about taking a cutting.
You could depend on Blanche having homemade sweets in her kitchen and hot, hot pepper sauces on her table. If you were lucky, she would share them with you. Blanche loved to cook, bake and eat, and was known for her perfect flaky piecrusts. No recipe was passed from Blanche with exact measurements.
She enjoyed canasta, Christmas lights, and watching birds, squirrels and hummers at her feeders. She had a passion for road trips with lots of stops along the way. When you traveled with her at the wheel, you did not ask where you were headed or when you would return, but you were in for an adventure, usually at high speeds.
Blanche was hardworking, strong-willed, energetic- an energetic soul known to speak her mind. She called an Ace and Ace and would not walk away from a good argument. With Blanche, you always knew where you stood. And in her company, you were sure to get a good laugh at someone or something. A pioneer of “tough love”, if she liked you, she teased you. If she loved you, you knew it. Children and dogs were drawn to her. Blanche made an array of lifelong friends in her career as a caregiver and housekeeper for many families in the Beaumont area and later in the Hamshire-Fannett ISD custodial department.
Blanche is preceded in death by her parents, brother, Gary R. Elkins and his wife Jean. She is survived by her daughter, Dianne Sanders Richard of Fannett; grandson, Lance Richard and wife Joy of Austin; sister, Kizzie Elkins Helmle of Austin, formerly of Fannett, great grandchildren, Tyler, Chloe and Caylee Richard of Austin; nine nieces and nephews.
Her daughter and grandson thank the nurses, staff and special caregivers at the Arboretum Nursing Facility in Winnie, and the Winnie Community Hospital for the love, respect and care they gave Blanche for many visits long after their shifts ended.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to be made to any Alzheimer’s research organization.