Mary Ellen Blackledge

MARY ELLEN BLACKLEDGE

Cedar Rapids

Mary Ellen Blackledge, 84, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, March 23, 2015, at the West Ridge Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 27, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Marion officiated by the Rev. Perry Fruhling and the Rev. John Meyer. Visitation will be held one hour before the service Friday at the church. Entombment will take place at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mary Ellen was born June 16, 1930, in Maquoketa, Iowa, to Fredrick Milton and Hazel Yvonne (Stowers) Hoover. After attending UNI, Mary Ellen was united in marriage to Harold James "Jim" Blackledge on March 18, 1951, in Winfield, Iowa.

She worked as the gift wrap department manager at Armstrong's until her retirement in 1988. Mary Ellen was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. She enjoyed her home and family, as well as traveling and needlework, especially cross-stitch. She loved doing calligraphy and floral arranging, even entering and winning some competitions. She will be missed by all who loved her.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, Harold "Jim;" daughter, Debra Lee Holbrook of Elgin, Texas; son, Larry Paul Blackledge of Eau Claire, Wis.; three grandchildren, Kristin (Tony) Deutmeyer of Cedar Rapids, Alyssa Blackledge of Granby, Colo., and Alexandra Blackledge of Eau Claire, Wis.; and sister, Susan Craig of Hoffman Estates, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Milton Hoover.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary Ellen's name may be directed to the St. Mark's Lutheran Church Foundation or the American Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedar

memorial.com.