Blanche Lorraine Meeks
July 28, 1928 - January 20, 2022
Blanche Lorraine Meeks, age 93 of La Plata, Missouri, passed away Thursday, January 20, 2022 at her home.
Born July 28, 1928 in La Plata, Missouri, the daughter of Emory “Blue” and Lela (Allison) Mercer. On June 10, 1956 in Alton, Illinois, she was united in marriage to Samuel L. Stone who preceded her in death. On January 1, 1992 in St. Charles, Missouri, she was united in marriage to John Alan Meeks who preceded her in death on December 28, 2010.
Also preceding her in death were her parents; one sister, Nancy Hall; and one niece, Becky Hall.
Surviving are two sons, Matthew (Lori) Stone of Evansville, Indiana and Christopher Stone of Wentzville, Missouri; one daughter, Jane (Stephen) Stone Spann of Atlanta, Georgia; four grandchildren, George and Grace Stone and Paul and Allison Spann; two great grandchildren, Edmund and Susanna Stone; four nieces, Cathy LeHew, Janice Baylon, Tanya O’Conner, and Minda Martinez; two nephews, Mark Hall and Donnie Stone; two step-daughters, Sherry Collins and Vickie Craver; and a number of step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
Blanche enjoyed living in La Plata, which was her home for most of her life. She grew up, lived her later years and passed away in the house her father built over 100 years ago. She was a proud member of ATALPAL and was a committee member and coauthor of the La Plata Sesquicentennial Book published in 2005 by The Friends for La Plata Preservation. She enjoyed playing Bridge with the La Plata Bridge Club. She volunteered her time to multiple local entities including the La Plata Library, Santa Fe Depot restoration, Greens Theater restoration and the La Plata Nursing Home.
After graduating from La Plata High School in 1946, and taking a gap year to live and work in California, she earned a degree from Northeast Missouri Teacher’s College (currently Truman State University). Blanche was a progressive thinker. She was an early feminist and a supporter of other great causes.
Blanche was strong and lived well. She was loved deeply by her family and friends. She was a teacher by profession teaching in Brookfield, Missouri and Alton, Illinois before raising her family and teaching in Kirkwood, Missouri. She continued to educate herself for work and other interests as her life progressed. In 1985 Blanche moved back to La Plata to take care of her mother, Lela Mercer, and taught Special Education in Kirksville, Missouri. She had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. She saw many places in the US and around the world and always encouraged her children to embrace adventure, as well. She was very creative, and with great skill, loved doing arts and crafts, knitting, sewing, and cooking for others.
She was loved very much by her family and friends and will be forever missed.
Private graveside services will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 2022 in the La Plata Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Northeast Missouri. They may be sent to or left at Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, MO 63549.
