Blanche Cofer, a former long-time resident of Kennewick, died on October 22, 2007, at Capital Medical Center in Olympia. She was 100 years old and died of complications from a recent surgery. Blanche was born in Carroll, Iowa on April 6, 1907. She grew up in extreme poverty but was an exceptional young student. After graduating from high school, she attended St. Anthony School of Nursing in Carroll. After three years of nursing training there, Blanche graduated first in her class and became a registered nurse. After five years of private duty nursing during the Great Depression, she returned to school at the University of Minnesota for a year of study in pediatric nursing. She then accepted a job at the University of Michigan Hospital, in Ann Arbor, where she worked for 14 years in the pediatric and tuberculosis wards. There she met her husband, Frank Cofer. They were married in 1939. After Frank returned home from three years of service in the Army in Europe during WW II, they moved to Kennewick. Frank worked at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Their son, Donald, was born in 1948. After giving up her nursing career to raise her son, Blanche was a very active volunteer with the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association for many years. She also contributed to several children?s charities. Blanche was an avid reader and shared her love of learning with her son. She enjoyed attending his athletic games from Little League through high school. She also took great pleasure in working in the flower gardens of the house she lived in for 42 years in Kennewick, until she moved to Olympia in 1989 to be closer to her son. Blanche was a sensitive and caring nurse, a loving wife, and a devoted mother. Her husband, Frank, preceded her in death in 1983. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Suzanne Cofer of Lacey, Washington. Her family requests that memorials in Blanche?s name be sent to her favorite charity, Childhelp USA. Graveside Services will be Friday, October 26th, 1:00pm, at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 10th & Union Street in Kennewick.