Lena Mabel Bowers Blanton was born in Versailles, Missouri in 1892. It was around 1902 when her family relocated to Chanute, Kansas where she remained for the remainder of her life. Lena attended school in Chanute where she met her lifelong husband, Clyde Anderson Blanton, who was working for the Santa Fe Railroad.
In 1909 she married Clyde and they began their life together in Chanute. In 1911, a child, Howard Clyde, was born to the union. For a brief period from January 1915 to late 1917, the family lived in Iola, Kansas, where Clyde was a brakeman for the Santa Fe. By August of 1918, the family had returned to Chanute and another child, William Harold, was born.
Throughout Lena's adult life, she supplemented the income of the family as a hairdresser in her home. She also tended a very large family garden where everything and anything that would prosper was grown. Being the wife of a railroad conductor required her to provide hearty lunchpail feasts for her husband Clyde. She was an expert baker and cook as this writer can readily attest. Her Parker House rolls were amazing as was her homemade plum jelly from the tree in their backyard.
Lena was also known lovingly for her role as the neighbor news central, making sure that everyone interested was informed about the current happenings of her area. If you wanted to know what was going on in her neck of the woods, you could just call Lena.
Lena was a member of Eastern Star and White Shrine.
Lena was a wonderful grandmother to this writer. I miss her dearly and fondly remember how she cared for me as a child during my many visits to Chanute.
She quietly passed away in September of 1984 at the Arolyn Heights Care Facility in Chanute at the age of 92.
(written by her only grandchild - James Blanton)
In 1909 she married Clyde and they began their life together in Chanute. In 1911, a child, Howard Clyde, was born to the union. For a brief period from January 1915 to late 1917, the family lived in Iola, Kansas, where Clyde was a brakeman for the Santa Fe. By August of 1918, the family had returned to Chanute and another child, William Harold, was born.
Throughout Lena's adult life, she supplemented the income of the family as a hairdresser in her home. She also tended a very large family garden where everything and anything that would prosper was grown. Being the wife of a railroad conductor required her to provide hearty lunchpail feasts for her husband Clyde. She was an expert baker and cook as this writer can readily attest. Her Parker House rolls were amazing as was her homemade plum jelly from the tree in their backyard.
Lena was also known lovingly for her role as the neighbor news central, making sure that everyone interested was informed about the current happenings of her area. If you wanted to know what was going on in her neck of the woods, you could just call Lena.
Lena was a member of Eastern Star and White Shrine.
Lena was a wonderful grandmother to this writer. I miss her dearly and fondly remember how she cared for me as a child during my many visits to Chanute.
She quietly passed away in September of 1984 at the Arolyn Heights Care Facility in Chanute at the age of 92.
(written by her only grandchild - James Blanton)
Lena Mabel Bowers Blanton was born in Versailles, Missouri in 1892. It was around 1902 when her family relocated to Chanute, Kansas where she remained for the remainder of her life. Lena attended school in Chanute where she met her lifelong husband, Clyde Anderson Blanton, who was working for the Santa Fe Railroad.
In 1909 she married Clyde and they began their life together in Chanute. In 1911, a child, Howard Clyde, was born to the union. For a brief period from January 1915 to late 1917, the family lived in Iola, Kansas, where Clyde was a brakeman for the Santa Fe. By August of 1918, the family had returned to Chanute and another child, William Harold, was born.
Throughout Lena's adult life, she supplemented the income of the family as a hairdresser in her home. She also tended a very large family garden where everything and anything that would prosper was grown. Being the wife of a railroad conductor required her to provide hearty lunchpail feasts for her husband Clyde. She was an expert baker and cook as this writer can readily attest. Her Parker House rolls were amazing as was her homemade plum jelly from the tree in their backyard.
Lena was also known lovingly for her role as the neighbor news central, making sure that everyone interested was informed about the current happenings of her area. If you wanted to know what was going on in her neck of the woods, you could just call Lena.
Lena was a member of Eastern Star and White Shrine.
Lena was a wonderful grandmother to this writer. I miss her dearly and fondly remember how she cared for me as a child during my many visits to Chanute.
She quietly passed away in September of 1984 at the Arolyn Heights Care Facility in Chanute at the age of 92.
(written by her only grandchild - James Blanton)
In 1909 she married Clyde and they began their life together in Chanute. In 1911, a child, Howard Clyde, was born to the union. For a brief period from January 1915 to late 1917, the family lived in Iola, Kansas, where Clyde was a brakeman for the Santa Fe. By August of 1918, the family had returned to Chanute and another child, William Harold, was born.
Throughout Lena's adult life, she supplemented the income of the family as a hairdresser in her home. She also tended a very large family garden where everything and anything that would prosper was grown. Being the wife of a railroad conductor required her to provide hearty lunchpail feasts for her husband Clyde. She was an expert baker and cook as this writer can readily attest. Her Parker House rolls were amazing as was her homemade plum jelly from the tree in their backyard.
Lena was also known lovingly for her role as the neighbor news central, making sure that everyone interested was informed about the current happenings of her area. If you wanted to know what was going on in her neck of the woods, you could just call Lena.
Lena was a member of Eastern Star and White Shrine.
Lena was a wonderful grandmother to this writer. I miss her dearly and fondly remember how she cared for me as a child during my many visits to Chanute.
She quietly passed away in September of 1984 at the Arolyn Heights Care Facility in Chanute at the age of 92.
(written by her only grandchild - James Blanton)
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