Elvadine H. "Dean" Blakley

Elvadine “Dean” H. Blakley, 95, passed away on July 18, 2022 at Aldersgate Village in Topeka, KS.

Dean was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 11, 1927 to Elmer H. and Caroline Haller Matern. On September 9, 1950, Dean was united in marriage to John E. Blakley in Afton, Missouri and early in their marriage they made their home in the St. Louis area. In July of 1958 they moved to Harveyville, Kansas where they resided until 2007, when they moved to Eskridge, Kansas. Dean finally moved to Aldersgate in 2014.

Dean loved God and was active in the church throughout her life teaching both Sunday School and Bible School classes for many, many years. She was a member of the Harveyville Church of Christ. Dean was an avid reader and she read from her Bible daily. Throughout her life Dean enjoyed gardening, family get-togethers and camping trips, traveling to various parts of the United States, and collecting pretty or unusual rocks from the places she traveled to. Dean performed clerical work for Eli and Walker in St. Louis until shortly after her marriage. After that her priority was being a mom and making a home for her growing family, but over the years she additionally worked as a stock clerk for the local grocery store, a librarian for the bookmobile, and a caregiver for the preschool children of a number of local teachers.

Dean was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her two brothers Elmer J. and Charles Matern.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Cathy and Bob Brown of Eskridge, KS; Lynn and Scott Larson of Hartland, WI; Lee and Fredda Blakley of Eureka, KS; and Jeri and Bill Logan, of Eskridge; by her grandchildren and their spouses Rachel Logan Hernandez and Miguel Hernandez, Eskridge; Jeremy and Sami Logan, Dover, KS; Andrea Larson, Milwaukee, WI: Trent Blakley and fiancé Melissa Morris, Lowell Blakley and Paige Blakley, Eureka; by her great-grandchildren Samuel and Romelia Logan Hernandez, Owen and Kora Logan, and Brannon Blakley; and by a number of nieces, nephews and other family members.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 23, 2022 at the Harveyville Church of Christ, with burial at Harveyville Cemetery. The body will lie in state one hour prior to service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Harveyville Church of Christ and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 338, Eskridge, Kansas 66423. Condolences may be expressed at Vanarsdalefs.com.