Thelma D Blakely

 Thelma D Blakely
1934 – 2008

Thelma D Blakely, 74, of Keokuk, IA, died Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at the Keokuk Area Hospital in Keokuk, IA.

She was born on May 2, 1934 in Lewis County, MO the daughter of Homer George and Nada Fay Tompkins Lay. On May 30, 1952 she married Kenneth Albert Blakely in Hannibal, MO. He preceded her in death on February 4, 1996.
Thelma graduated from Lewistown High School with the Class of 1952. She lived in Missouri until 1970 when she moved to Arkansas. She moved to Keokuk in 2007 to be closer to some of her children.

She attended the Turrell First Baptist Church while living in Arkansas. Thelma enjoyed working on puzzle books and was an enthusiastic St. Louis Cardinal fan. She was a loving mother and had been devoted to caring for her ten children.

She is survived by six daughters, Caroline O’Day and her husband Joseph of Kahoka, MO, Bonnie Patten of Keokuk, IA, Wanda Davis and her husband Danny of Las Vegas, NV, Sharon Perry of Keokuk, IA, Shirley DeFreitas and her husband Terry of Glasford, Il and Patty Seyb and her husband George of Wyaconda, MO, two sons, James Blakely and Kelly Jones-Blakely of St. Charles, MO and David Blakely of Turrell, AR, twenty four grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, four brothers, Vincil Lay of O’Fallon , MO, Ralph Lay, Ursa Lay and Mervin Lay all of Lewistown, MO, one sister, Twila Gibson of O’Fallon, MO and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Joyce Kaye Blakely and Gladys Marie Blakely, one granddaughter, Shirley Ewing, one great-granddaughter, Jessica McFarland, three brothers, Virgil Lay, Melvin Lay and Bruce Lay, three sisters, Erma Williams, Lorraine Miller and Faylene Rearden and her parents.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the family and sent to Vigen Memorial Home, 1328 Concert St., Keokuk, IA 52632
On-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.vigenmemorialhome.com