Blakely, Darlene J. ( 1916 - 2011)

BLAKELY, NIELSEN, JENSEN, WALKER, YEAGER, LINTON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 4/9/2013 at 17:55:23

Posted by permission

Darlene Jewell Blakely - 94

Darlene Jewell Blakely was born on November 18, 1916 in Fairview Township, Shelby County, Iowa to Martin and Isabel (Jensen) Nielsen. She attended Center Township country school and Harlan High School, graduating with the Class of 1935. She furthered her education at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas.

On December 24, 1938, she was united in marriage to Donald Blakely at the Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa. The couple had one daughter, Marcia.

Darlene taught country school, represented Field Enterprises as a World Book salesperson, and worked as a social worker for Baptist Memorial Home in Harlan.

She was a charter member of First Baptist Church in Harlan and served on various church committees. She taught Sunday School, was a member of the Farther Lights women’s group, and helped organize the senior citizens’ group.

Darlene’s hobbies were sewing and she participated in a women’s sewing circle. She also had a flower garden that she loved to take care of. She was an outstanding, loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Darlene died on Thursday, June 2, 2011, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-four years, six months, and fifteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two brothers: Kenneth and Leo Nielsen.

She is survived by her daughter Marcia and her husband Lyle Walker of Harlan, Iowa, two grandchildren: Jeremy Walker and Amy Walker both of Harlan; her sister Phyllis and her husband Glen Yeager of Central Point, Oregon; sisters-in-law Ruth Linton of Harlan and Mariann Nielsen of Avoca, Iowa; other family members and many friends.

Pastor Dan Hawn officiated the 10:30 AM funeral service on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Harlan, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Ray Chipman, Dale Sorensen, Dr. Charles Early, Dave Outhouse, Don Christensen, Clifford Hanson, Myron Sorensen, and Jerry Larson. Serving as casket bearers were Dallas McDermott, Brad Sorensen, Brandon Martin, Paul Nelson, Dan Martin, and John Gilliland. Interment was held at Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.