Juanita Blakley

Juanita Blakley, age 87, left her earthly life and entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 18, 2016. Born at home in Kitchel, Indiana on January 1, 1929, Juanita was a New Year’s baby (without all the fanfare of today’s first baby of the year), to Goldie (Wills) and James Hackworth. She was the youngest of three girls and grew up on a dairy farm in the Camden-Morning Sun area, graduating from Camden High School. On February 18, 1950, she married Eugene (Gene) Blakley and to this union, four children were born: Lynn (Bill) Eisele, Beverly (Philip) Foutz, Kevin (Anita) and Scott (Janet Lowitz) who will remember their mother for her gentle ways and loving kindness. Juanita was well known for her home-grown, delicious meals which she served to her family, friends, and hired workers on the farm. She loved baking and will be remembered for her hospitality, opening their home for 4-H, Farm Bureau, and numerous Grange meetings in the Collinsville area over the years. After the children were grown, Juanita worked in the cafeteria in the Talawanda Schools, and was a devoted caregiver to her mother-in-law, Mary Blakley, until her death. Juanita was content and "vigilant over the activities of her household; she doesn’t eat the food of laziness. Her children bless her; her husband praises her." Proverbs 31:28-28. Her desire was to be the best wife and mother she could be. Juanita was a member of the Collinsville MNO Club for over sixty years and a member of St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church and the ACES Senior group, Collinsville Modern Housewives Club, and enjoyed going to the Oxford Senior Citizens, especially for a good card game. The daughter of a well-known local square dance caller, Juanita loved square and line dancing, and actually met her husband at a dance in Port Union. In addition, she devoted her time to Collinsville Grange #2264 where she served as Junior Grange Leader for over forty years. In so doing, she instructed young children in reverence for the Bible, ritualistic work and encouraged their participation in crafts, baking and talent contests. Her greatest joy was sending Junior Grangers to the Ohio Charitable Foundation Camp-Friendly Hills in Zanesville. She was honored by the Ohio State Grange as the "Star Junior Leader" in 1993. She was also honored as one of Hamilton’s YWCA Women of Achievement for her work with youth. In addition to her husband, Gene and her children, are twelve grandchildren left to cherish her memory: Robyn Huston, Heath (Tracy) Eisele, Tyler (Kim) Sparks, Trisha Falk (Will Lader), Holly (Ivan) Munoz, Kyle Blakley, Dean (Laney) Blakley, Gerald, Josh, and Justin Blakley, Brian (Hollie) Foutz, and Laurie (David) Wethington; And nineteen Great-grandchildren. Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, one child at birth, one sister, Marjorie Fisher; brothers-in-law, Donald Fisher, Eddie Schenck, Frank Janik, and Lloyd Barnes, and her mother and father-in-law, Robert and Mary Blakley. In addition to the previously mentioned family, Juanita is survived by her sister, Loretta Janik of Milford, Norma Barnes of Middletown, and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be sent to Collinsville Grange #2264, 854 Oxford-Middletown Rd. Hamilton, OH 45013, and earmarked for "Junior and Youth Grange Activities" or sent to Ohio State Grange to be set aside for the "Junior Grange Department" at 16303 Village Parkway, Fredericktown, Ohio 43019-9585. Donations to Collinsville Grange may also be sent for the sponsorship of the Butler County Grange Fair Booth. The family would like to thank Woodland Country Manor, Somerville, and Dr. James Thomson, Camden for the loving care of Juanita and for the support given the family during her illness. Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church on Friday, June 24, 2016 at 10:00 AM with Father Michael Pucke, celebrant. Burial will follow at Collinsville Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Avenue, Hamilton, on Thursday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.