Jessie M. Blevins

Jessie May Blevins went to join her beloved husband Dick Blevins on 11-25-14. Jessie May Lavender Blevins was born on June 16, 1908 in Monmouth, IL to Alfred and Della (Nees) Lavender. Jessie grew up on the plains of Wyoming going to a one-room schoolhouse on horseback or horse-drawn wagon. Only five years before she was born the Wright Brothers made their first flight. She was seven when the airplane was just getting started. At ten years old she saw the end of World War I. At nineteen years old she saw Charles Lindbergh fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She went through the Depression, saw radio, telephone, television and computer become household items. Other milestones were World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, men walking on the moon. In her 10 years, Jessie witnessed amazing changes and progress.A year after her father's death, the family returned to Monmouth. While living in Monmouth she met and married Wm. Henry "Dick" Blevins on December 31, 1931. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage. They raised three children - Richard, Sheila and Sheryl. Jessie worked at the Monmouth Pottery, Formfit and Genesco. She and Dick were a very close couple who enjoyed bowling and traveling. They were never without the other. Jessie, herself, enjoyed car travel up until her death. Jessie was living in Missouri with her daughter Sheila at the time of her death. Jessie was preceded in death by her husband in 2000, parents and 2 brothers - Joe and George Lavender. She is survived by her children; Richard (Nancy) Blevins of Denver, CO., Sheila (Jim) Ortery of Clinton, MO, Sheryl (Fred) Gustafson of Monmouth, IL., eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two brothers, Joe and George Lavender. Services:A visitation and funeral service will be at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, IL on Saturday December 6, 2014 at 11:00 am. Interment will be in the Monmouth Cemetery. Her family plans a visitation receiving their friends from 10:00 am to 11:00 am prior to the funeral service Saturday. A memorial fund is being established for the Roseville Lanes Youth Program in Roseville, Illinois.