Beverly "Bj" Ann Sample-Blankenfeld

Beverly Ann “BJ” Sample-Blankenfeld, age 74, of Bloomington, died Tuesday afternoon (08/13/19) at her cabin in the woods. Born October 17, 1944 in Elkinsville, Indiana, she was the daughter of Albert and Katherine (Stogsdill) Cross. BJ attended school in Brown County, Indiana. She went to cosmetology school and worked as a beautician for many years at the Beauty Lounge on 7th & Washington where she often cut IU players hair. She was a huge IU fan and cherished her photos with players over the years. In 1973 she entered the Real Estate field, working for life-long friends Jerry Gates and Bob Doty along with her “sisters in business”; Jane Toon, Donna Carnegie, Sherry Martin, Sherry Abram, Alma Rubeck, Caroline Rush and Sug Miller. BJ spent 40+ years in Real Estate, receiving multiple awards for both achievement and leadership, including ABWA woman of the year in 1988. BJ was active in leadership all the way to the state level. She ran for county council, was a past President of the BBOR and was on the Monroe County Plan Commission. She was a co-founder of the Elkinsville Reunion Group and was of the Christian faith. BJ was always working to improve the quality of life for those around her.

A loving mother, she is survived by her five children; Brian Sample, Lynn A. Sample and Jacqueline S. Sample-Fielder, all of Bloomington and Stacey Mueller and Gabrielle Muriel Kidd, both of San Diego, California; eight grandchildren, Reese Vaughn “Richard” Mueller, Sara Jane Mueller, Christina Marie Orman, Lindsay A. Sample, Jeramy Joseph Burton, Natalie M. Sample, Heather Renee Fitzgerald, and Charles Lee “ Chuck” Sample; ten great-grandchildren, Joseph Aiden, Savannah Jade, Luke William Anderson, LaTanya Beverlyann, LaKeim Joseph, Colby Coe, Violet Mae, Madison Elizabeth, Abigail Rose and Sophia Presley; one brother and sister-in-law, Rodney and Janet Cross, of Orleans, Indiana; four sisters and three brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Bill Lutes, Pikes Peak, Indiana, Alberta and Larry McConnell, of Kirksville, Indiana, Rose and Don Hatton, Columbus, Indiana and Linda Lane, of California; three sisters-in-law, Thelma Cross, Springville, Indiana, Ginger Cross, Florida and Carol Cross, Bloomington and several nieces and nephews.

BJ was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Gerald J. Sample to whom she married June 8, 1964 and died August 20, 1986, second husband, Richard Keith Blankenfeld to whom she married June 2, 1995 and died November 12, 2015; three brothers, Albert Cross, of Springville, Fred Cross, of Florida and Robert Cross, of Bloomington and dear friends, Caroline Rush and Sug Miller.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday (08/24) at the Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home; 4150 E. Third St. with Pastor Frank Helton officiating. Burial will follow in Valhalla Memory Gardens. Friends may visit the family on Friday (08/23) from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be given at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com