Nelle Rose Blakewell

Nelle Rose Blakewell, 70, of Galesburg, died at 7:50 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 2015 at home.

Nelle was born November 14, 1944 in Monmouth, the daughter of Harold and Anastasia Pittard Lee.  She married Ashton Earl Blakewell June 1, 1963 in Galesburg.  Surviving Nelle is her husband of 51 years, Earl of Galesburg; two sons, Lee (Becky) Blakewell and Jon Blakewell both of Galesburg; three daughters, Yvette Carpentier of Galesburg, Marna Blakewell of Altona, and Jackie Reimolds of Davenport, IA; two brothers, Larry (Jane) Lee of Galesburg and David (Kay) Lee of Moline; and one sister, Mary Alice Stewart of Goodyear, AZ.  Nelle is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Lindsay (Hudson) Archer, Nick Carpentier, Emily, Ashley, Erin, and Allison Reimolds, Samantha Byrd, Ashton and Zachary Blakewell; and three great grandchildren, Jackson, Colin, and Audrey Archer.  She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Jimmy Lee and Rev. Robert E. Lee; and one sister, Carol Ann DeCoster.

Nelle graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1962.  Nelle was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Ladies of Mary.  She enjoyed tending to her plants, had bowled on a league for a number of years, and most recently had enjoyed having her family over for Friday family card night.  Nelle worked in physicians billing for 10 years at OSF St. Mary Medical Center.

Nelle loved her family more than anything and cherished all the time she spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Visitation is planned for Wednesday, March 18, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg.  The rosary will follow at 7 p.m.  Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Rev. Msgr. Ernest Pizzamiglio will officiate.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Galesburg.  Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the American Heart Association.  Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.