Blanche Quillen

Blanche Marie Quillen, 97, passed away on September 1, 2024. She was born on January 20, 1927 to Harold and Bertie (Painter) Campbell. Blanche is preceded in death by Her husband Gene Quillen both of her parents and son in law Jim. She is survived by her daughters Beth P Silvey (John) and Jeannie M Ouderkirk; grandchildren Jeremy Silvey (Leylla), Lindsey Clayton (Michael), Cody Silvey (Joanna), Clayton Robbins (Nicole), and Oliva Amerio (Nic); great grandchildren Jameson, Noa, Forrest, Grace, Elizabeth, Carmin, and Samantha; and many loving friends and extended family. Today September 6, 2024 we say a bittersweet farewell to our dear Mother,Grandmother, Great Grandmother, a friend and neighbor. Blanche Marie Campbell-Quillen was born January 20, 1927. It was a snowy bitter-cold day when her amazing Mama gave birth to her in a one room cabin in the middle of the woods. Her parents Bertie and Harold Campbell loved her more than life and raised her as their little princess. Blanche grew up as an only child on a small farm in Wild Cherry, Arkansas. Her parents literally lived off their own land. Being raised on a farm Blanche developed a strong passion for horses,birds and all the farm animals. She had her own horse named knee-high along with her pet crow. She rode her horse back and forth to school everyday and her Daddy would give her a nickel every morning for a bottle of soda pop. As time passed Blanche grew into a beautiful and curious teenager and developed a love and dream to sing and play the guitar. As time passed her love of music, horses and her pet crow grew. As a curious young lady she made a difficult emotional decision to move to the big city. Her parents were completely heartbroken knowing there was not a phone to call home. The big city was 300 miles away but Blanche would ride the bus to go (back home as she called it) at least once a month. She found a job and shared a small apartment with a distant cousin. Her job was at the Nazarene Publishing House and that is where she met her husband Gene of 52 years after a 3 month courtship they were engaged and married February 12, 1960. After Blanche and Gene married they moved to Kansas City, Ks and were blessed with two girls Beth and Jeannie. She chose her career as a housewife. Blanche’s true love was her girls and her family and her music was always her 2nd love. After the girls started to get a little older she started playing and singing again with friends, family and neighbors. She traveled often playing shows at various fairs, festivals and at friends' homes Blanche began teaching herself to play the fiddle and participated in several contests. She also played the madeline along with about any instrument she picked up. She also managed to put together in the 80’s a small band called the Hilltoppers. One of her stories she loved to tell was that her band was listed in Washington DC. She was so proud. After becoming a Grandma for the first time in 1984 she was blessed with 4 more and helped take care of all 5. Picking them up from school and meeting them at the bus stop and always having special treats for them. As the Grandkids grew older she started focusing on her love of music and would travel all over town often entertaining people in various Retirement centers. Blanche over the years outlived all of her friends, music mates and family. In 2010 her husband Gene was diagnosed with Alzheimers and was completely blind after struggling with his eyesight forever. She was his primary caregiver. After his death in 2012 she found happiness and inner peace by focusing on playing and singing and also developed talents in writing songs, poetry, drawing and sewing. She also journaled everyday of her life. In her late 80’s it was decided it would be best if she gave up her driving privileges. This made it difficult for her to continue to perform her music. So at that time she focused on her other talents until her health gave out. Blanche spent the last 2 ½ years of her life at Healthcare Resort in KCK; she was truly loved by everyone there. She would always greet everyone with a special smile and a gentle hand shake. The last 4 years of her life she managed to continue on this earth after doctors only giving little hope. She had beat all the odds by surviving covid at least twice, stage 5 kidney failure and congestive heart failure for at least the last 2 ½ years. In November 2022 she broke her hip after surgery she managed to regain her full ability to walk again. At the end of her journey her love of Christ, the Bible and her family kept her on this earth for longer than anyone thought was possible. On the evening of August 31st around Midnight she knew God was calling her home. Blanche’s final request was making her last journal entry and would not rest until she finished. The opening sentence was (This is my last day here) and the last sentence was( I will now be with my Mom and Dad in Heaven).. Everyone can definitely say if you had the pleasure to meet, love or know her you would never forget her, She was one of a kind. A visitation for Blanche will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at Maple Hill Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held the following day, Friday, September 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM with burial to follow at Maple Hill Cemetery.

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Blanche Quillen

January 20, 1927 - September 1, 2024