Mrs. Jean Darnell Blankenship, age 88, of Murray, KY, died Thursday, July 4, 2019, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Macon Blankenship, and by her parents, Herman and Oina Darnell of the Kirksey, KY community.
She is survived by her children; son, Mark Blankenship and wife Becky, daughter, Beth Buchanan and husband David all of Murray, KY; four grandchildren, Brian Lovins and wife Beth Rose of Phoenix, AZ, Morgan Hutchinson and husband Brett of Los Angeles, CA, Neal Buchanan and wife Laura of Nashville, TN, and Bailey Blankenship of Murray; four great- grandchildren, Cattarina Lovins of Phoenix, AZ, Olive Bee and Schafer Hutchinson of Los Angeles, CA, and Lily Grace Buchanan of Nashville, TN; brother-in-law, Paul Blankenship and wife Alice of Dewitt, MI ; sister-in-law, Jane Hill of Murray; uncle, Ray Bazzell of Murray and an aunt Dean Rogers of Winter, Haven, FL; as well as several nephews and a niece and many cousins survive.
Mrs. Blankenship was a charter member of the University Church of Christ. She was the Executive Director of the American Red Cross for 13 years and the National Red Cross Disaster Organization for 13 years, where she worked over 40 National Disasters. She was a Trustee of the Murray Calloway County Library, member and President of the Calloway County Park Board, and was selected by the Rotary Club as Humanitarian of the Year in 1995. She was also the Co-Founder of the Calloway County Humane Society and a member of the Murray Magazine Club.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 12, 2019 at the University Church of Christ with burial to follow in the Coldwater Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2019 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the University Church of Christ. There will also be visitation on Friday, July 12, 2019 prior to the funeral service from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the University Church of Christ. The service will be officiated by Charlie Bazzell and John Dale. Music will be conducted by Dr. Todd Hill, her nephew, and by Dr. Derek Jones.
Honorary Pallbearers will be her cousins, and the ladies of the Murray Magazine Club. Active Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society, 607 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071 or to the Murray – Calloway Co. Animal Shelter, 81 Shelter Lane, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
Online condolences can be made at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com