Jessie Blaylock

WILLIAMSBURG ? Jessie Irene Blaylock, 95, of North English, died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in the English Valley Care Center in North English.

Celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the North English Christian Church in North English with the Rev. Luke Caster officiating. Burial will be in the Brethren Cemetery in rural South English. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 29, at the Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg. A memorial fund has been established for Keokuk County Hospice and the North English Christian Church.

Mrs. Blaylock was born Aug. 28, 1920, in Keswick, the daughter of Orlando and Bessie Harriett (Reasoner) Edmundson. She married Marvin Franklin Blaylock on Dec. 9, 1937, in Kirksville, Missouri.

She attended Keswick High School. She lived most of her life in Keokuk County before moving to North English in 1987. She was a 48-year member of the Kinross Christian Church and an 11-year member of the North English Christian Church, Kinross Social Circle, CWF, a 72-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a past matron of Rosaline Chapter, and a member of the Past Matrons Club. She enjoyed cooking; canning; wintering in Florida, Texas and Arizona; hosting her family; and later playing bingo at the English Valley Care Center.

Surviving are four children, Gary Blaylock of North English, Karyl Miller and husband Bill of Washington, Mike Blaylock and wife Margaret of North English, and Pat Blaylock and wife Michelle of Fairfax Station, Virginia; 17 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Harriett Denison of Sigourney; one son-in-law, Marvin Gent of Williamsburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin, in 1989; one daughter, Karen Gent, in 2015; one sister, Dorothy Tadlock; three brothers, Dale, Wayne, and Raymond Edmundson; one niece; and one nephew.