Obituary of Blythe Gentry

Blythe Gentry was born in Loma Linda, California on August 2, 1938. She left this earth on December 27, 2020. She was 82 years old. Blythe lived her whole life true to her name, which means “joyful”. She was dearly loved by everyone who knew her. Blythe went through school and began her teaching career in Southern California where she met many people who became lifelong friends. Blythe’s life was forever changed when she was hit, head-on by a drunk driver on March 28, 1962. Her life was saved by a private physician, who witnessed the accident and literally brought her back to life by providing CPR at the scene. After days on life support, months in a coma and years in physical therapy, she was never able to resume her teaching career. Her parents moved her to Live Oak in 1973 where they kept her physically and socially active on their ranch and in several social and service organizations. Blythe was preceded in death by her parents, James E. Blythe Gentry and Frances Marie (Fisher) Gentry. She is survived by her only sister, Marylou Elizabeth (Gentry) Burgin; her niece, Kimberly Jean (Watson) Wallencheck, and nephews Robert Malcolm Watson, Jr., and Roger William Watson. The family would like to thank the staff of Yuba City Post-Acute for the gracious caregiving during Blythe’s last few years of life. For those who would like to honor Blythe’s memory, and in lieu of flowers, please make a memorial gift to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, 533 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, TX 75062. Arrangements entrusted to Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.