Annette Martha Buckholdt Heriford Annette was born on September 13, 1920 in Kennewick and passed away on August 5, 2009 in Kennewick, but her heart always belonged in Hanford where she grew up. She was the oldest child of DeWitt Charles and Martha Kline Buckholdt. In the mid 1920’s her family traveled by car to southern California where her father would work in the oil industry during the winter months. After the stock market crashed in 1929, they remained in Hanford year round where they had a fruit orchard. Her brother Jay was born in 1931. It was a close knit community and she made many lifelong friends. Her memories included climbing Gable Mountain, horseback riding, and everyone working hard; but her favorite times always seemed to include times spent near or swimming in the Columbia River.
During her junior year in high school her parents sent her back east to live with relatives and attend a larger school over 3000 students where they thought she would have opportunities not available in Hanford. She lasted till Christmas but was so homesick she refused to go back. Hanford High School burned down before she finished and her class joined with students at the White Bluffs High School, graduating in 1938. Hanford rebuilt its high school and it is one of the few landmarks still standing on the Hanford Reservation. She spent the next years working, saving and studying as she attended the University of Washington, a difficult task during the depression. Except for the rain, she loved her years at the University and was working toward a degree in archeology and anthropology. A good athlete, she always enjoyed sports and played basketball while in college and remembered seeing Jackie Robinson play football for UCLA against Washington. In the spring of 1943 she was two quarters short of graduating when the government took over the town sites of Hanford and White Bluffs and the surrounding areas.
She and her father both went to work for DuPont and the family was able to stay in their home for almost an extra year before they too had to leave. Most of her time was spent as a youth director working with the teenagers who had come to Hanford with their parents. Her parents would eventually move to Richland, but after the war she wanted a new adventure and went to Los Angeles in hopes of going to UCLA. That never came about, but she did work as a hostess for Tommy Dorsey’s club and taught ballroom dancing. While in LA she met Wayne Heriford and they would marry in Las Vegas on March 5, 1947. She and Wayne moved to Richland, where he found work on the Hanford Project . Their daughter Marilyn was born in 1948 and son Bill in 1951. During the mid 50’s she and Wayne worked with others to start the Edgewater Golf Course in West Richland. During those years she made lifelong friends that were a true blessing in her life. She worked hard to get a swimming pool built at the golf course and many children benefited from the swimming lessons she taught. She enjoyed following her children’s activities and became a faithful Bomber basketball fan. I968 marked two major changes in her life. She went to work at Battelle as a receptionist and later a secretary and the reunion of former Hanford and White Bluffs residents moved from Prosser to Richland. This marked the first time former residents were allowed to go back to their home sites. She took great pride in sharing with her children and grandchildren what she so loved about the valley and its unique history. Her years with Battelle brought new friendships and opportunities to learn. After retiring from Battelle in 1986 she worked for several years as a tour guide for the Science Center and the FFTF Visitors Center. She took advantage of any opportunity that would let her be out on the Hanford site. Starting in 1968 she would work with Harry Anderson from White Bluffs and other former residents who lived in the Tri-Cities to host the reunion the first weekend of every August, but she was the driving force that kept the reunions going and was devoted to preserving the history of the area. The last official reunion was in 2005. She was grateful for the many community members who assisted with the reunions and who took a special interest in the history of the town sites and the people who lived there. She had many pets during her life, but her two whippets were especially important to her. She also loved decorating for all the holidays, but Christmas was her favorite time of the year, and she passed that tradition on to her children and grandchildren. Her parents shared their love of the Bible and the teachings of Christian Science which built a foundation for her strong faith that sustained her all her life.
Her last six years were spent in the Canyon Lakes Restorative Care Center and her family is grateful to the staff for the special care she received. While there, the friendship of other residents and their families was a great gift. The family is also grateful for the friends who continued to visit her and help with her care. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those wishing to make a memorial donation consider one of our local museums, any charity benefitting animals, or Meals on Wheels, 8656 Gage Blvd. #301, Kennewick, WA 99336.
She is survived by her children, Marilyn Perkins and her husband John of Kennewick and their children Erin KleiberDave of Renton, Wa., Kara Perkins of Long Beach, CA. and Doug Perkins of Los Angeles; and Bill Heriford and his wife Jan of Provo, Utah, and their children, Hank Heriford Aubrey, Patrick Heriford Jessica, Megan WilsonJenner and Nathan Heriford all of Utah. She was very proud of her six great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Jay in Orlando, FL. and his children Wayne Buckholdt Christyof Atlanta, GA. and Yvonne Webb Bob of Kennewick and their children.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 6th, at 2:30 pm at Memories at Sunset Event Center, located at 915 the By-Pass Highway on the beautiful grounds of Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Express your thoughts and memories in the online guestbook at einansfuneralhome.com.