Blanche L. Taylor Riggs, 99, a resident of Cameron Park, CA, after an inspiring struggle against the inevitable, passed away in her sleep on January 23, 2007, in the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Roseville CA. Blanche was born in Gilroy, CA, March 18, 1907, the daughter of Walter L. Taylor and Nancy Ann Howard. Blanche was preceded in death by her son, Edward W. Leippe; her first husband, Herbert M. Leippe whom she married in 1925; her second husband Woodrow W. Riggs, whom she married in 1969; and by her parents and all of her brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her children; Harry M.Leippe and wife Nancy of Las Vegas, NM; Barbara Mello of Hanford, CA; Herbert L. Leippe and wife Mary Ann of Aptos, CA; Gail Kendall of Yerington, NV; and David L. Leippe and wife Deborah Cashatt of Cameron Park, CA. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
With inexhaustible energy and courage, she mothered and protected her growing family through the hopeless poverty and endless years of the Great Depression. She and her husband Herbert, who was employed by the Coast Counties Gas and Electric, moved to Watsonville,CA in 1932. Soon they discovered and purchased one of the many small bankrupt apple farms to be found among the fertile valleys and dark redwood forests of Santa Cruz County, CA.
From meagre resources, she created a warm and secure home, where the traditional labors and rituals of family life were kept. Wood cut from adjacent forests stoked the kitchen stove used for cooking, heating water and the clothing irons. Water streamed from a nearby natural spring. A generation of laundry was done on a wood scrubbing board. Dresses, shirts, under garments and other clothing flowed from her treadle sewing machine. A Spreckles Sugar logo often graced the bottoms of her boys’ underwear. By the light of kerosene lamps and lanterns countless hours of crocheting and embroidering were done while supervising school homework.
Blanche always cultivated a large garden from which came an abundance of vegetables and fruits for her steady cycle of meals. She loved to roam in the jungle of her tomato plants with salt shaker in hand.
During the annual harvest season, using wood fires and tubs of scalding hot water, she canned at least 2,000 jars of fruits, vegetables, jellies and meats. From the orchard came apples, peaches and quinces; from the neighbors came pears, apricots, cherries, strawberries, and plums; from the grassy pastures came wild black berries; and from Bossy came milk, cream and butter.
From her busy kitchen emerged the quintessence of baked bread, fry bread, biscuits, to-die-for beans, pastas, enchiladas, checker board and whipped cream cakes, pies with out end, cookies, candy, ice cream, cinnamon rolls, fruitcakes and steam puddings. The aroma of baking bread summoned every one to her kitchen, where we were rewarded with a great slice of hot bread slathered with her fresh butter and crab apple jelly. The joy of eating climaxed during the Christmas season. Within the magical world of her Christmas tree were found more of her kitchen miracles.
Because her husband Herbert was employed full time, Blanche was often the real manager of the entire farm. She could hoist the 200 bushel boxes of apples needed to load the truck when it arrived at an untimely moment. Problems of all kinds were often vaporized by her ingenious application of primary English.
She served two terms as a trustee of the Fruitvale Elementary School District. She reigned for many years as the Shuffle Board Queen of the Pacific Coast. Woe unto all who challenged her at cribbage.
She was born four years after the Wright brothers historic flight in 1903. In 1995, a trip to Hong Kong aboard a 747 was her Christmas gift from Dave and Deb. Blanche was an honorary veteran of several great wars.
During World War One she was busy in the “Knittin’ for Britain” sewing groups. During World War Two, her fruitcakes and cookies relentlessly pursued her eldest son Harry all the way to Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet in the far Pacific. Her youngest brother, Vernon Taylor, was killed during the reconquest of the Philippines. As a pilot in the war in Vietnam, her youngest son David received his share of cookies and fruit cakes – genuine weapons of mass destruction.
The love, care and common sense of our oldest generation of women guide and inspire us in the great challenges and struggles of life. Our irreplaceable Blanche will be remembered for as long as we live.
During her later years, Blanche realized the blessings of her large family. She enjoyed care and comfort provided by the families and homes of Gail, Barbara and especially the unique contributions of Dave and Deb.
Her family is profoundly grateful for the compassion, dignity and respect Blanche received at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Roseville, CA, and for the care provided by Mission Carmichael Healthcare Center in Carmichael, CA. Her final resting place will be with her husband Woody in the veteran’s section of St. Mary’s Cemetery in Sacramento, CA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any veteran’s association and/or the USO. Memorial contributions of chocolate truffles may be entrusted to her son Harry Leippe, 1005 Mills Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701.
