Blanche M. Melms

Blanche M. Melms, Fort Gratiot, 97 ¾ years old, passed away on May 20, 2024. She was born August 3, 1926, to Louis H. Baker and B. Mildred Baker Rush in Kimball, Michigan.The eldest of five children, she attended country school and graduated from Port Huron High School in 1944, then attended Port Huron Junior College. Blanche worked at Chrysler Corporation in Marysville, where she met her future husband Thomas Donald Melms. They were married on January 25, 1948, and remained married 49 years until his death in 1997. They left for their honeymoon in a snow storm, but things got better. Blanche and Tom bought a small house in Lakeport, where they raised their four daughters. When their daughters were mostly grown, Blanche reenrolled and graduated from St. Clair County Community College, then earned an Elementary Education Teaching Degree from Michigan State University and a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Wayne State University. Blanche taught in the Port Huron Area Schools for several years but had a keen interest in real estate and continued working for several years until retirement. Blanche was a life partner, with her husband Tom in all his endeavors especially with United Way Campaigns and events. Blanche also joined Tom in his passion for sailing, racing their yacht Liebchen every Wednesday and Sunday and organizing many family sailing vacations. She was a member of the Port Huron Yacht Club well into her 80’s when she would still crew on a race committee boat or a racing yacht if they needed an extra hand. She could handle the tiller or make the best sandwiches on board, even if no one felt well enough to eat them. Blanche served on several boards at First Congregational Church including Sunday School Supervisor and teacher. She was also a Girl Scout leader and was the perpetual transportation and support for her daughter's many activities. Blanche was a competitive game player and competent bridge partner and she loved to travel and made many trips abroad. Blanche is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law; Gayle and Donald Wright, Erie, PA, Laurie and Tom Dennis, Fort Gratiot, MI, Linda Vosberg, Yorba Linda, CA, and Marilyn and Antonio Viera, Bastrop, TX. Blanche enjoyed grand-motherhood to her eight grandchildren and their spouses; Thomas (T.J.) and Brooke Dennis, Port Huron, Sean and Joanna Dennis, Louisville, KY, Jeffrey Wright and Casey Wright, Erie, PA, Stephanie Loope and Andrew Rodriguez, Henderson, NV, Lindsay Loope, Yorba Linda, CA, Tony and Jessica Viera, and Rhiannon Viera, Bastrop, TX and was G.G. to her seventeen great grandchildren Kyla, Michael, Chandler, Caidan, Cailey, Cooper, Caroline, Charlotte, Jackson, Makayla, Cadence, Ryan, Atticus, Diego, Josie, Roark and Harper. She is survived by her sister-in-law Donna Baker, many wonderful nieces and nephews and was preceded in death by her brothers; Harry and Harold Baker and sisters; Betty Barton and Helen Johnson. To anyone who ever sent Blanche a greeting card of any kind, she enjoyed them immensely and saved all of them; thank you for thinking of her. Blanche has been welcomed into eternity by her Lord Jesus Christ and is happy to be joined with those who have passed before her. After four years of living at Lakeshore Woods Senior Living, Blanche was treated like the queen that she was, and loved by many of the employees who she kept on their toes. Many thanks to all her caring aides through the years, and to Accent Care Hospice Care, we all felt the love. Memorial gifts may be made to the United Way of St. Clair County c/o The Thomas D. Melms Fund to promote community leadership. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Jowett Funeral Home is privileged to serve the Melms Family. View obituary and share memories at www.jowettfuneralhome.com

Blanche M. Melms

August 3, 1926 - May 20, 2024