Lora Pearl Kirk Blakely

Lora Pearl Kirk Blakely was born in McNairy County, Tennessee to Edward G. and Ada Bell Steadman Kirk on April 29, 1919. She went to her home in heaven on Friday, March 4, 2016. She was married to John Paul Blakely, who died in 1954.

She lived in Ramer most of her life and graduated from Ramer High School in 1937 where she was a star player on the Ramer Eagles Basketball team and an Academic Award recipient. She served God at Ramer Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for over 30 years. She was always interested in missions and worked with both the GA's and WMU's groups. She taught women's Bible Studies at her home after she was unable to attend services.

Ms. Blakely worked over 35 years at Brown Shoe Company in Selmer and after her retirement worked at the McConnico Library for 12 years.

Lora Pearl loved the Lord and loved her family. After her husband died young, she raised 5 children as a single parent with a full time job. She made sure each child was fed, dressed, loved, and in Sunday School every Sunday. After she had grandchildren her house was continually full, especially every Friday night when most of them would spend the night. She had a large vegetable garden every year and always planted and enjoyed flowers. Lora Pearl will be missed by her family, her friends, her church family, and her friends at Lynnfield Place Assisted Living.

She is survived by two sons, Johnny (Linda) Blakely of Ramer, Darrel (Kathy) Blakely of Bartlett; one daughter, Gwen Norris of Selmer; 14 grandchildren, Ricky Blakely of Alabama, Michael (Tammie) Blakely of Selmer, Wendy (Diego) Cardenas of Phoenix, Arizona, Thomas Attaway of Iowa, David Blakely of Selmer, Tammie and Jimmy Norris of Texas, Johnny (Layne) Norris of Selmer, Ross (Sherri) Blakely of Greenbrier, TN, Lora Lee (Kevin) Sweat of Selmer, Jeremy (Mandy) Blakely of Ramer, Jennifer (Peter) Hosier of Bartlett, Lisa (Derik) Holliday of Bartlett and Kim Smith of Selmer; 33 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews, and her longtime friend of 60 years, Bettye Jones.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by 4 brothers, Rubel Kirk, Vernice Kirk, Moody Kirk, and Bob Kirk; 4 sisters, Vallie Thompson, Sadie Hayes, Sybil Lumpkin, and Margaret Burton; 2 sons, Paul Blakely and Greg Blakely, and a son-in-law, George Norris.

Memorials may be made to Ramer Baptist Church, Building Fund, 3899 Hwy. 57 W., Ramer, TN 38367.