Mrs. Velma Lee Blake, 84, of Southwest City, Missouri, departed this life on Christmas morning, December 25, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, after a recent decline in health.
Velma entered this life on May 14, 1933 in Knox City, Missouri, one of fourteen children born to the late Lester Elsworth and Hazel (McCabe) Kessler. She was raised in Knox County where she attended Jeddo Country School and later Knox City School. On November 10, 1950, she was united in marriage to Charles Eldon Blake and to this union six children were born. They resided in Danville, Arkansas, prior to moving their family to Southwest City, Missouri, in 1967. Velma and Eldon were the original owners of the Malt Shop in Southwest City. She also operated a licensed daycare for a period of time. In 1985, she became the head cook at the Southwest City Grade School, retiring in 1995. She enjoyed time spent with her family, cooking and tending to the needs of her home. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Southwest City First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of sixty-six years, Eldon Blake on July 1, 2017; two great granddaughters, Khloe Mae Anderson and Makenna Blake; and six siblings, Donald, Floyd, Lester, Gene and Violet Kessler and Willa Strange.
Velma is survived by her six children, Richard Blake and wife, Donna, Kathy Lee McKee and husband, Jim, David Blake and wife, Nyanna, Mary Ann Golden and husband, Steven and Daniel Blake all of Southwest City, Missouri and Judy Kay Gow and husband, Bud, of Noel, Missouri; thirty-seven grandchildren; fifty-three great grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren (for a combined total of ninety-five); three brothers, Ralph Kessler of Labelle, Missouri, Harold Kessler of Bowen, Illinois and Charles Kessler of Edina, Missouri; four sisters, Irene Powell of Palmyra, Missouri, Betty Songer of Edina, Missouri, Sue Wiskerchen of Durham, Missouri and Linda Lay of Lewistown, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Blake are 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at the First Baptist Church in Southwest City, Missouri, with Bro. Rob Grimm officiating. Burial will follow in the Southwest City Cemetery. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Michael McKee, Eric Blake, Tim Testerman, Dylan Blake, Matthew Blake and Brent Blake. Ryan McKee, Chris McKee, Kaleb Testerman, River Blake, Cody Blake and Braden Blake will be serving as honorary. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5-7:00 p.m. in the Southwest City Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes. A memorial has been established and contributions may be left at the funeral home. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Southwest City, Missouri.
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