Nelva Pauline Blackburn

Nelva "Polly" Pauline Blackburn, 77 passed away on June 28, 2010 at Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass. No services are planned She was born in Utah on June 26, 1933 to Nellie and Blair Duncan. Shortly thereafter they moved to Lynwood, CA. She grew up in Compton, CA until after graduation and then moved to Downey, CA where she spent most of her life working and raising her children. She enjoyed working in the optometry field fitting and making glasses. She made a lot of friends there. She was a hard working, honest, kind person who set an example of strength and endurance to the end without complaint. She loved working in the yard, had a great love for animals, and her favorite thing to do was to read. In 1998, she and her best friend Carolyn, retired and moved to Grants Pass, OR where she happily spent the rest of her years. She is survived by her daughter Paula Lynn Yates of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, her son Michael Blackburn of Hemet, CA; her grandchildren, Jason VanderPutten, Jamie Grant, Jennifer Yates, Tad Blackburn, Alyssa Ashley and Eric Henderson; her great grandchildren, Haylie Grant, Jacob Grant, and Matthew VanderPutten; her sister Patricia Stowers of Anaheim Hills, CA; Carolyn Sue Henderson, her best friend of 41 years who cared so much for her, and Summer, her golden retriever. Polly will be missed dearly by all her friends and family. She meant so much too so many people.