Obituary of Mildred Elizabeth Blaine

Mildred “Millie” Blaine, 95 years young of St. Petersburg Florida, passed away Friday March 29th at home. Surrounded by her family, she went to meet Jesus with a praise on her lips. She was born in Liberty Missouri to Albert Milton Moore of Liberty Missouri and Augusta Lachman Moore of Chicago Illinois. Mildred had three children. Cheryl Louise Hart of Inman South Carolina, Bonnie Steers of St. Petersburg Florida and Dan Blaine of Sacramento California. Mildred also had ten grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren and fourteen great great grandchildren. Wow! What a legacy. Mildred graduated from Liberty Highschool in Liberty Missouri class of “1941.” Mildred was born on December 8th, 1923.  Mildred was the oldest of five children, Alberta Heckert of Fort Worth Texas, Reed Moore of Sacramento California, Emma Beebe of San Diego California and Bobby Moore of Fayetteville North Carolina.

     Mildred’s early childhood was quite an adventure, she was a very active young lady. She recalled at ten years old, that she participated in a walking contest. She said, “I walked so long and hard that when I stopped to rest, my legs just kept on walking.” Millie, as she was called, always shared a room with her sister Alberta. Mildred did a lot of chores around the house. During her teen years tragedy struck the Moore house-hold. Mildred’s mother had gotten sick and was bed-ridden for three long years. Mildred, being the oldest, had to take up the slack. She had some help from her sister Alberta, who was just younger than Mildred.  Unfortunately, Mildred had to take on the roll of mommy at such a young age. Her and Alberta had three little ones to take care of also. They prepared the meals did the house-hold chores and everything it takes to keep a home going. By the grace of God, they got through that time and Mother Moore recovered and was able to go back to running the house with an iron hand.

     After graduating high school in June of 1941, Millie went to business college in Kansas City Missouri. Mildred took a course in secretarial training. After completing the required education, she quickly acquired a position at Sears and Robuck. Soon after that, after Pearl Harbor, in March of 1942, she met the man she would spend the next sixty-four years with, Elmer Blaine. It did not take long for them to fall deeply in love. It was a whirl-wind romance that’s for sure. After meeting the parents, and everyone was accepted on both sides, Elmer and Mildred eloped to Leavenworth Kansas and were married on June 6th, 1942. To honor her grandparents, fifty-five years later her grand-daughter Elise Steers would marry the love of her life Evan Evans on that same day.

     The Blaine’s moved to California in 1946. Elmer moved there first and a few months later sent for Mildred. By this time, they had a three-year-old daughter Cheryl. The story behind the birth of their first child is this as far as I recall. Elmer had enlisted in United States Army during World War II, he was about to be deployed over-seas. Mildred wanted a child because she did not know if Elmer would survive the war, so she wanted a part of him to be with her always. Elmer did not want a child because he did not know if he would survive the war, and he did not want Mildred to be a widow with a child having to survive on their own without him. Being part of the “Greatest Generation” the men often thought that way. He did not want Mildred to have to struggle and having a child would make it that much harder. Being that as it may, Mildred being Mildred she had the child anyway. Elmer got to see his child about five days after she was born. Elmer did not see his daughter again until she was about three years old.

     After moving to California, Mildred got a position with the Bureau of Poultry inspection in the agricultural department for the state of California. She had to pass a lot of tests just to qualify. Mildred is one of the smartest women I know. She became a senior stenographer. That was, at that time, the highest level a secretary could achieve. Mildred also worked for three veterinary doctors who were constantly going out to inspect facilities all over the state. Mildred kept the office running smoothly, she also had to write reports and supervise other secretaries that were employed there at that office.

     Mildred was always good at keeping things in order. She was very efficient at the tasks that she would perform. These gifts that she had for order and efficiency also transferred to her home life, she took care of the finances for the home, “there is a place for everything and everything in its place” she would say. Mildred knew birthdays, wedding anniversaries, social security numbers, phone numbers, at home and at work. I am told that Mildred’s memory was referred to more than the phone book or dictionary. Her organizational skills helped the church she attended and blessed more people and ministries than can be recalled to memory. Mildred was a giver in everything she did, she never asked for anything in return, she just wanted to bless people in all things she wanted to bless the Lord. Her daughter Cheryl had said that “Mildred Elizabeth Blaine was to me the perfect example of a meek, quiet spirit, was the living example of the character of Jesus Christ living in and through a person’s life. Always patient, always kind, always encouraging and loving. Her priority was that all would know Jesus Christ as she knew him; as both Savior and Lord.” One of Mildred’s favorite bible verses is 1st Timothy 2:8, “I desire therefore that men everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” Mildred read the bible everyday without fail, the bible was her guiding light on roads that were sometimes dark and unsure. Another verse she loved was James 5:13, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” That is how Mildred lived her life.

     In the last home that they would live in together before Elmer went home to be with Jesus. Manchester California on the north coast of California, U.S. Highway 1, that highway ran right in front of their home. It was their “dream” home. Mildred and Elmer took responsibility for the water company. Elmer handled the testing for the water, keeping the pipes and pumps in working order. Mildred handled the budget, collection of fees and assessments, and kept the books in order. They did these jobs for that area into their 80’s. That is how committed this couple was where ever they went. After sixty-four years of being married to the love of his life, Elmer had a series of blood clots that would take his life at eighty-seven years young. As he lay in the emergency room, his eyes fell upon Mildred and he said “she is the finest woman in the world, beautiful, smart and fun. I have loved her all of my life.” Mildred stayed in their “dream” home about another four years after Elmer went to be with the Lord. After that is was hard for her to be on her own. Mildred went to live with her daughter and son-in-law Phillip and Bonnie Steers in St. Petersburg Florida. Elmer and Mildred will always be an example of a Godly marriage. As we look at their example, my hope, is that we are inspired to be all the God has call us to be.

     Mildred Elizabeth Blaine, you are truly a Proverbs 31 woman, “Who can find a virtuous wife? Her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her…. Strength and honor are her clothing… She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness…She watches over the ways of her house-hold… HER CHILDREN SHALL RISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED… A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” I have been a witness to the testimony of this wonderful woman’s life, I have seen first hand the beauty of Mildred Blaine. I am part of her legacy, she has poured her life out for me my entire life. I have heard her pray for me by name in her secret place, when no one was watching. I have seen her give me love when I did not deserve it. She has given me unconditional love my entire life. She has been a huge part in making me who I am today. Her wisdom will live on in me the rest of my life. And because of that, her wisdom will also live on in my children and their children for generations to come. You might ask yourself, as you are quietly thinking about Mildred, how do I know this? I know this, because I am her first grandchild. I have witnessed her love and compassion and sacrifice my whole life. Grandma, I love you so much, I thank God every day that you are my grandma and that my children had the privilege to know their great grandma. I will rise up the rest of my life and honor you and call you blessed. Psalms 92:14 & 15 says this, “They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

IN HONOR OF

MILDRED ELIZABETH BLAINE

BORN DECEMBER 8TH 1923

ENTERED INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD

MARCH 29TH 2019

A Memorial Service will take place on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 1pm at Northeast Park Baptist Church, 3737 1st Street NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.