Helen M Blackman Markham, age 101, of East Pharsalia NY passed away peacefully on April 14th, 2018 at the Chenango Memorial Hospital. She was born on September 11, 1916 in Plymouth, the oldest daughter of William and Ceta Cobb Blackman.
On July 20th, 1936 she married Raymond Markham in NY.
For 23 years Helen supported the US Air Force at Rome Air Force Base (Griffith). She spent another 10 years supporting higher education at Princeton and Rutgers Universities in the Department of Science and the Graduate School of Education, respectively.
Helen and Raymond lived in East Pharsalia for many years and spent their winters in Okeechobee FL. After Raymond passed, Helen returned, full time, to East Pharsalia and became a Lay-Minister at St. Bart’s. Helen spent several years in Preston Manor where she was joined by her sisters June and Grace. She always enjoyed the outdoors, hiking and seeing the wildflowers.
She is survived by her son and daughter David J Markham and Polly Evans; 6 grandchildren, David & Karen Markham, Tom & Isabel Markham, Debbie Galler, Cheri Evans & Alec Beningfield, Patrick & Kerstin Markham, and Marion Markham; 9 great-grandchildren, David & Barbra Markham, Tom Markham, Emma and Charlotte Carter, Joshua & Daniel Kordani, Michael & Cassey Galler, Richard Galler and Stephanie Galler; and 5 great-great-grandchildren, Garret and Kaylee Bergeron, Gavin and Ryan Markham, and Michael Galler. Also, two sisters, June Manwarren and Grace Franklin; two brothers, Lester Blackman and Leslie & Joyce Blackman and daughter-in-law Ginny Markham. She lost her husband, Raymond Blackman, on July 20th, 1979 and her son Patrick Markham on November 24th 2017. She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters, Myrtle Horton and Doris Crandall, and her brothers, Fred, Carl, Art and Leonard Blackman and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful ladies from Preston Manor and Chenango Memorial Hospital for their assistance and compassionate care provided to Helen. She will be greatly missed by us all.
A Funeral Mass for Helen will be held on Thursday, April 19, at 10 AM from St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church. The Rev. Ralph Bove, Pastor, will officiate.
At Helen’s request there will be no calling hours.
Burial will be at a later date in St. Paul’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Preston Manor 1150 County Rte 4, Oxford, NY 13830.
