June Keller Blakesley

In the early morning hours of December 24, 2015, June Mary Keller (Bird) Blakesley, formerly of Sandusky, Ohio, died of complications related to Alzheimer's. She passed peacefully with her daughters by her side. June was born on the family farm in Erie County Ohio on September 19, 1936 to Laurence and Ethel (Good) Keller; Sr. She attended schools in Venice and Sandusky, graduating from St. Mary's Catholic High School with the class of 1954. She then attended the Providence School of Nursing, graduating with her RN Diploma in 1957. In her early career she worked for Providence Hospital and Dr. F.O. Fry in Sandusky. In 1969 the family moved to Shelby, Ohio, and she began working for the Richland County Health Department. In 1971, June accepted a position with the State of Wyoming working as a nurse for the Wyoming Pioneer Home. She retired from full-time nursing after forty-four years, and continued to work part-time for another six years. June married Robert (Bob) Bird in Sandusky on September 19, 1959 and to this union they have two daughters, Rebecca Ann and Lisa Maria. They later divorced and June married Ivan (Ike) R. Blakesley in 1976 in Thermopolis, Wyoming. This marriage also included the addition of Ike's children, Veva and Mark Blakesley. June was spirited, curious and loved people. She was kind hearted, generous to a fault, and loved her family without reserve. She loved her church and was devoted to her faith. Even through the years, St. Mary's Catholic Church and Sandusky would always be home. She loved to travel, bake and to fish and mostly spend time with her kids. She took great pride in her home and her family. Besides her faith, family was the most important part of June's life. Like most amazing women of her generation, she placed the care and need of others before her own. She was our rock, and her love and influence will forever be with us. June was preceded in death by her husband Ike Blakesley, parents Laurence and Ethel, brothers Frederick and Charles Keller, infant son Robert, brother-in-law George Hofstatter (Patricia Keller Hofstatter), nephew Jonathan Keller (Gary and Carol), nephew Anthony (Tony) Keller (the late Charles Keller and the late Anita Bright Keller Bird), nephew and niece Randy and Kenna Keller (Jim and Wanda), and infant grandson Jacob Cornell (Becky Bird). June is survived by her sister Patricia Hofstatter, Sandusky; brothers Laurence Jr. (Jeanette), Castalia; Thomas (Judy), Huron; James (Wanda), Gary (Carol), Gregory (Karen), and Mark (Lynn), all of Sandusky; Keith (Maurice Weaver), Perrysburg; and Jeffrey (Cindy), Berlin Heights; daughters Rebecca Bird and Lisa Brownell (Patrick) of Billings, Montana; grandsons Raymond Cornell (Shannon Tillo) Livingston, Montana, Robert Cornell(Shannon) of Denver, Colorado; Lucas Harvey (Nicole) and granddaughters Shannon Harvey Long (Zachary) and Stephanie Harvey, all of Billings; Ike's children and grandchildren, Veva and daughter Cassity Van Kirk, and Mark and children Marshall Bridges and Julia Blakesley of Thermopolis, Wyoming. A very special place in June's heart was saved for her great grandchildren, Gage and Breckin Long, Liam and Miles Harvey, and Casheus and Noah Cornell. She loved her boys! “Junebug” was lovingly cared for and treated with the utmost of dignity and respect by the staff at Canyon Creek Memory Care. To our family at Canyon Creek we will be eternally grateful. A lifetime of blessings to you all. June will be remembered in her home parish, St Mary's Catholic Church in Sandusky at the 11:30 mass on Sunday, January 17th, 2016. Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 29, 2016, at 11:00 at St Pius X Catholic Church in Billings, Montana. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to any Catholic Charity or church of your choice. Cremation has taken place.