Gladys Virginia Blankenship

She was born October, 14, 1928, in Buncombe County, NC to the late Grant Williams and Lessie Hollifield Williams.

In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband, James Earl Blankenship and her son, James Allen Blankenship.

Surviving Mrs. Blankenship are her son, Jerry Ray Blankenship of Marion, NC; two daughters, Deborah Blankenship McKinney and husband, Larry of Bakersville, NC and Sherry Blankenship Isley and husband, Mike of Canton, NC; one brother, Herman Williams of Marion, NC; three sisters, Marie Dale of Marion, NC, Doris Parrish and husband, Robert of Marion, NC and Jan McSwain of Asheville, NC; five grandchildren, Heather McKinney, Jennifer Pless, Chesni Ratliff, Shea Blankenship and Dustin Blankenship; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, February 13, 2012 in McCall Memorial Chapel at Kirksey Funeral Home in Marion, NC with Rev. Mike Peterson and Rev. Doug Honeycutt officiating. Burial will follow at McDowell Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Hospice & Palliative Care Center of Mitchell County – 236 Hospital Dr. Spruce Pine, NC 28777.

Words of comfort may be shared with the Blankenship family at www.kirkseyfhmarion.com.