MURIEL FAY AASVE BLANKENSHIP

1931 - 2017

MURIEL FAY AASVE BLANKENSHIP February 17, 1931 ~ December 22, 2016 Muriel Fay Aasve Blankenship, a longtime resident of Tehama County, passed away peacefully at the age of 85 with family at her bedside on Thursday December 22. She was born February 17, 1931 in Duluth, Minnesota to Winfred (Win) and Senia Aasve. The family later moved to Gladstone, Michigan where Muriel graduated from high school. Muriel went on to attend Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) where she graduated in May 1953 and earned a Bachelor's degree with honor in General Science (Medical Technology major). She was one of 9 women in her graduating class of 305 students. She then moved to Flint, Michigan where she worked at Flint Medical Laboratory and met her future husband, Dewey Arthur Blankenship. Muriel and Dewey were married at Trinity Episcopal Church in Gladstone, Michigan on August 1, 1953. Muriel's sister Ann, and her close friend and cousin Barbara Isaacson were her bridesmaids that summer day. After the wedding, Muriel and Dewey lived in the Michigan and Wisconsin areas while Dewey worked towards his degree and Muriel gave birth to two daughters, Margaret Alice (called Peggy) and Senia Jean. In 1961, the family of four moved out to California and this is where two sons were born, Arthur Paul and Andy Jon. They raised their four children in Red Bluff where Art (Dewey started going by his middle name in California) was a teacher and Muriel worked as a medical technologist (now called a clinical laboratory scientist) at St. Elizabeth's Hospital for 20 years. She was very good at her job and loved her work. She was often called to take difficult blood samples from little infants in the hospital because of her skill and gentle nature. Blood donation was important to both Muriel and her husband, and they gave regularly throughout their lives. She had a love of photography and used to develop her own photos from home. She loved to take photos of her children over the years, and often photographed flowers as well. Both she and Art enjoyed traveling. While their children were still young, the family made many trips cross country, often camping in National Parks along the way, and visited family that remained in the Mid West region. Later in their retirement years, they continued to visit with family across the states, as well as took cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal. Other travels took them to Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, France, England, and South Africa. Art and Muriel remained in the Red Bluff area throughout their later years. They were active members at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Red Bluff, where they took their children and grandchildren. They lived in Dairyville where they raised animals, had an apricot orchard, and Muriel tended to her lovely rose garden. They had been married for 53 years at the time of Art's death in 2006. Muriel will be remembered by her family as a kind and loving mother and grandmother. She had a sweet disposition that carried on even through her years of struggle with Alzheimer's. Her dementia did not define her. She was an intelligent and lovely woman, who lived her life to the fullest. She is survived by her daughter Peggy Whitten and son-in-law Greg of Red Bluff, daughter Senia Owensby and son-in-law Wayne of Red Bluff, son Arthur Blankenship and daughter-in-law Pennie of Auburn, and son Andy Blankenship of Red Bluff. She also had 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Besides her husband, Art, she was also preceded in death by her sister, Ann Lee; and grandchildren, John Henry Whitten and Katie Anne Whitten. A memorial service will be held at Community Baptist Church on Saturday, February 25th at 11:00 am.