Mary Bridget Blankenship

Mary Bridget Ann (Moran) Blankenship, was born on June 18, 1909 in Houston, Texas. Growing up, she attended McCowan Elementary and San Jacinto High School. She also studied two years at Wichita State University. On November 24, 1934, she married Ernest Merle Blankenship. He died in 1975 after 41 years of marriage. Mary and Ernest lived in a small house on the same property where they built their new home. It took them 3 years and 7 months to complete. Mary B, as she was called, retired from a private school owned and operated by Harry Dickerson, the Bryant Institute for Computer Education. Mary B was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church. Her first love was politics. She was a hardworking Democrat all her life and attended several presidential inaugurations. Her first big convention was in 1928 in Houston (Al Smith vs. Hoover). Mary is preceded in death by her father, John Joseph Moran who was born and raised in Illinois, her mother, Sally Brossette Moran who was born and raised in Louisiana; 3 brothers, A.J. Vance, Gibson and John Joseph Moran and one sister, Inez Marian Wilkerson. Viewing will be held from 10-5pm on Tuesday at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby. A rosary will be held at 7pm at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2801 S. Seneca, Wichita. The Mass will be at 10am Wednesday, January 26, 2011, also at St. Anne Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to Rivercross Hospice, 10333 E. 21st St. N. #410, Wichita, Ks. 67206