| Beatrice "Blanche" Thacker |
| Beatrice Blanche Thacker b. 16 Feb. 1894 in Odessa, Texas. Her parents: Albert C. Thacker and Sarah Elizabeth Bullock. Blanch was born in Indian territory (according to what she has told us), in Odessa, Texas. As a very young adult, she lost touch with all of her family. Blanche left her Uncle's home and married at about thirteen years old. Grandma married Marvin Lee Harper b. 1890 in Texas. "Grandaddy", was what he was always called (not papa or grandpa). Grandaddy was a minor and a farmer, and one of 10 brothers and sisters. He was fun loving and what a joker. Grandma had her children at home, and had to grow up far too fast. She lost two at birth and one "Alfie" (she called him) was born with a crushed skull, but lived two years. He was always on her mind and her talked about him with found memories. She loved her babies, and her flowers. Grandma Blanch was fun loving and full of orneriness. You'd say "please pass the bread", and grandma would give you that mischievous look, and throw the bread at you. She loved to play with the children (no matter what age), and get you down and tickle you until you'd say "uncle". We loved grandma's baking and dumplings. Grandma tells stories of having a full blooded Indian for a mom. She said over and over that she was at least 1/2 Cherokee (and Blackfoot). She looked very much Indian and so did her descendants. Her son Chess L looked like he was full blooded Cherokee, and "Cherokee" was his nickname. Chess L married Etta May Roberts and they had 6 children (one being me). He flew 32 missions over Germany during WWII. Grandma's daughter Evelyn married Ruben Nutt and they had five children. Her daughter passed away in 1990 and her son in 1997. Grandma always wanted to find her brother and sisters. She often talked of them and how she missed them all. Grandma (Blanche Thacker-Harper) and Grandaddy (Marvin Harper) lived in Texas where the kids were born. She moved again to California (in the 1930's ?)and then lived in California for the rest of her days. She and grandpa Marvin Harper were divorced in 1940 ? and both remained good friends until grandpa died in 1962 (Portland, Or). They both remarried (others) and went on with a new life. Grandma married Reinhold Schmidt b. April 16, 1907 d. Feb. 1975 (he had no children) and they lived in Lodi, California until he passed away in 1975. They had a farm and raised calves and chickens, etc. Grandma and "Uncle Ronnie" (he said he just wasn't OLD ENOUGH to be a "grandpa" so we always called him Uncle Ronnie), were very religious and went to church every Sunday. They both sang in the Billy Grayham choir, and in church. She was a good old Southern Baptist woman and took her grandchildren to church with her when she could. We always had Easter picnic's and Fourth of July barb-b-ques at grandma's house. Shortly after Uncle Ronnie passed away, she moved to Douglas City, California and lived on 17 acres in the mountains, in her own double wide trailer. The land belonging to Cynda Lee Harper-Lawson, one of her granddaughters. Cynda and Etta May (our mom and ChessL's wife) spent a lot of time with her there. They helped her through those last years, when cancer had her bed ridden and in so much pain. She was able to enjoy the deer, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and a lot more wild life. She always had a flower garden, and a vegetable garden. |
| Here is a short story about grandma and her life: the way I remember it. by her granddaughter, Laura Harper |
| Grandma's family and early life has been a puzzle for us (family). We are slowly putting the pieces of this puzzle together. I will add more as I learn it Found this information in SSDI, but don't know where the name "Addis" came from? SCHMIDT BLANCHE ADDIS 02/16/1894 MOTHER: BULLOCK FATHER: THACKER BIRTH: TEXAS DEATH: SHASTA, CA 07/06/1982 SS# 549-88-1207 |
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| I sent for the social security application records that grandma filled out for her SS#. She showed her mother: Elizabeth "Betty" Bullock and her father Albert C. Thacker. Grandma could not spell and she always used nick names for family and friends. She wrote her birthday: 2/16/1894 and her name: ______ Blanch Thacker |
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