Blanche Amelia Clapham

Sheridan Press

Blanche Amelia (Tanner) Clapham died Wed. March 20, 1996 at the age of 97 at Westview Health Care Center of natural causes.

She was born February 28, 1899 in Ridgeway, Missouri. She was the oldest child of William and Nora (Bennet) Tanner. She was raised in Missouri and graduated from high school.

She took her teacher training in Des Moines, Iowa and taught school in Newton and Cainesville.

She met her husband Charles A. Clapham in Missouri and after he homesteaded in Gillette, Wyoming, she moved to Gillette where they were married August 28, 1921. They lived in Gillette for several years where their two sons were born. While in Gillette she worked for two businesses. They moved to Sheridan in 1929.

She attended and graduated from Sheridan College in 1953. She was the first grandmother to graduate from Sheridan College. She taught school in and around Sheridan for several years.

Mrs. Clapham loved the beautiful state of Wyoming especially the Bighorn Mountains where she and her husband spend many summers at their cabin near Arrowhead. Mrs. Clapham was interested in education and western history & genealogy. She was active in the First Christian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Shirley, her brothers, Darce, Arnold and Richard. Her husband Charles died April 29, 1972 in Sheridan.

She is survived by two sons: Joseph Charles Clapham of Denver, CO; Walter Lee Clapham of Sheridan, WY; five grandchildren: James Clapham, Richard Clapham and Joanna Clapham of Denver, CO; Kim Clapham Gleason of Sheridan, WY and Karin Clapham Coppinger of Federal Way, WA; six great grandchildren: Timothy Clapham of Tempe, AZ; Heather Clapham Shippy of Chandler, AZ; Kevin and Katie Amelia Clapham of Denver, CO; Chauncie Marie Gleason of Sheridan, WY; and Keisha Marie Coppinger of Federal Way, WA; one great great granddaughter, Sydney Shippy of Chandler, AZ. Three sisters; Mrs. Gretchen Suggs of Chattanooga, TN, Mrs. Grace Pergande of Sheridan, WY and Phyllis M. Tanner of Sacramento, CA; and one brother, Don Tanner of Lebanon, Missouri. Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews throughout the U.S.

She will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Sheridan Cemetery.

Mrs. Clapham touched many lives and will be sadly missed. Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 1996 at Sheridan Municipal Cemetery with the Rev. Doug Goodwin officiating. Arrangements are with Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorials may benefit the educational fund, First Christian Church, the Soup Kitchen both c/o First Christian Church.

Contributed by: Chauncie Gleason