Clear, 68° F
(July 1, 2005)
Blanche Gilmore of Powell died Friday morning, July 1 at St. John’s Nursing Home in Billings, Mont. She was 78. Memorial services were conducted Wednesday at Union Presbyterian Church for long-time Powell resident Blanche Belle Gilmore, 78, who died Friday, July 1 at St. John’s Nursing Home in Billings, Mont.
She was born Blanche Belle Summers on July 12, 1926, in Thomasville, Mo., daughter of Charles Arthur Summers and Goldia (Baughman) Summers. After high school graduation, she worked in a bank in Missouri and then moved to Powell with her mother and brother, Lloyd Summers, in 1947.
She met Audrey Gilmore, and they were married in Red Lodge, Mont., April 28, 1947.
She was a secretary by trade. For a number of years, she and her husband owned and operated the former Southside Grocery, a neighborhood market. They moved to Idaho in 1977 and then back to Powell in 1979.
She enjoyed fishing and had a special fondness for steelhead fishing on the Salmon River at the grassy bank in Idaho. She loved to crochet and was her boys’ number one baseball fan as she followed their games and sporting events. Family members will recall that “she made the best fried chicken ever.”
Survivors include five sons and their wives, Bob (Elle) Gilmore of Clearwater, Fla., David (Nancy) Gilmore of Powell, Kent (Traci) Gilmore of Lone Pine, Calif., Kirk (Brenda) Gilmore of Billings, Mont., and Steven (Teresa) Gilmore of Pocatello, Idaho; a sister, Helen Bourquin (Charlie) of Powell; 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and special cousins, Con and Sandee Gilmore, Brandee Hewatt and Brett Gilmore, all of Pocatello, Idaho.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Audrey; a granddaughter, Tracy Gilmore; three brothers, Woodrow Summers, Noel Summers and Lloyd Summers; and a sister, Lee Pierce.
Cremation has taken place. Arrangements were made by Thompson Funeral Home.
