Blake, Lilas Marie 1894-1952

BLAKE, SHOPBELL, GREENLAND, CANBY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/17/2011 at 08:54:46

The Grinnell Herald-Register

MRS. RALPH BLAKE DIED TUESDAY AFTER A LINGERING ILLNESS

Lilas Marie Blake, beloved wife of Ralph Winslow Blake passed away Monday afternoon in a local hospital at the age of 57.

Mrs. Blake was born Dec. 28, 1894 near Mt. Union, in southeastern Iowa, at the farm home of her parents, George Arthur and Clara Louise Shopbell.

After attending grade school in Mt. Union and graduating from high school in nearby Winfield, she taught in rural schools for a year.

She was united in marriage to Ralph Winslow Blake of Oberlin, Kansas, on Nov. 18, 1916, at Burlington, Iowa.

After living for brief periods in Oberlin, Kansas, and Jamison, Mt. Union, Fairfield and Washington, Iowa, Ralph and Lilas came to Grinnell where they have made their home for the past 26 years.

She is survived by her husband and three sons, Richard, of Ardmore, Okla., Keith of Ames and John of Maxwell. Her parents and two sisters, Mrs. Leah Greenland and Mrs. Nellie Canby live in Mt. Union. A brother, Frank Shopbell, lives in Osceola. Her niece, Alice Greenland, lived with the Blake family from 1944 until 1951 and now resides in Washington, D.C.

She is also survived by three grandsons, Peter, son of Keith, and John and Robert, sons of John.

Mrs. Blake was a member of the Congregational Church of Grinnell and was active in the women's groups of the church. She was a thirty year member of the Order of Eastern Star.

After her sons entered the services during the war, Mrs. Blake took up nursing and until her recent illness had served as a nurses aide in the Community Hospital. She became a licensed practical nurse on March 27, 1950.

Mrs. Blake was a devoted wife and loving mother. She had many friends in Grinnell, and many people will remember her for the kind and sympathetic care she tendered them in the hospital.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Leland W. Mann in the Smith Funeral Home Wednesday afternoon. Organ music was provided by Mrs. Rhee Auman. Mrs. Irving Lemley and Mrs. John Talbott cared for the flowers. Pall bearers were Frank Ritter, Leo Flanagan, Melvin Van Wechel, Earl Mathews, John Talbott and Irving Lemley. Interment was in Hazelwood Cemetery.