Obituary of Mary Margaret Blankenship

Mary Margaret Blankenship, 87, of Kistler, WV, went home to be with the Lord and her loving husband, Leo, on June 27, 2024. She was born on May 23, 1937, in Lorado, WV, to the late Cecil and Thelma Rowe. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Leo Blankenship; Son, Jack Blankenship; Daughter, MaryAnn Copeland; Grandsons, Christopher Tipton II and John Hatfield; Granddaughter, Cathy Copeland; sister, Helen Lowe; and brothers Ralph and Nathan "Sonny" Rowe. Mary was a retired school cook, having served the children of Logan County for 26 years. Cooking was more of a ministry than a job for Mary. She found great pleasure in creating delicious meals and treats to share with her family and friends. Mary surrendered her life to the Lord and remained faithful to God for 66 years. During her time at Kistler Church, she served as President of the Ladies Auxiliary, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School secretary, and youth leader, and took her role as the wife of a deacon very seriously. Mary was a current member of the Becco United Baptist Church, where she loved to worship God with her daughter, Kim. Mary felt very blessed to be a part of two church families whom she loved dearly. She was one of the most loving, caring, compassionate, and generous people one could ever hope to know. She may not have reached celebrity status in the eyes of the whole world, but to those who know and love her, she was a shining star and famous for her delicious ham salad and peanut butter fudge. Those left to cherish her memory are her two sons: Mike (Melissa) Blankenship of Clemmons, NC and Harold (Peggy) Blankenship of Gastonia, NC; one daughter, Kim (Chris) Tipton of Kistler, WV. 11 grandchildren: Brad (Eva) Copeland of Kistler, WV; Tamara (Marty) Hurney, of Leesburg, VA; Megan (Mack) Lounsbury of High Point, NC; Jonathan (Kathleen) Blankenship of Concord, NC; Jared (Julie) Blankenship of Davidson, NC: Jessalyn (RJ) Lopez of Gastonia, NC; Jeremy (Amanda) Tipton of Colorado Springs, CO: Jaxon Tipton of Kistler, WV; Andrew (Katie) Hale of Harts, WV; Misty Hatfield of NC; and Kevin Hatfield of Lorado, WV. 18 Great Grandchildren: Joseph, Jacob, and Amanda Copeland; Kate, Keegan, Ellie and Jayden Blankenship; Ashlynn, Harper, and Charleigh Blankenship; Isabella Lopez; Olivia Tipton; Paisley, Khloe and Daisy Hale; Joe, Jim, and Eloise Hurney. Her sister, Dewonna Conn, her best friend, Mary McCoy, as well as Carol Murphy and Shirley Grimmett, whom she loved as daughters. The family would like to extend a special thank you to her loving and patient caregivers Carol Murphy and Karen Story. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Becco United Baptist Church in Becco, WV. Funeral services will begin at 12:30 pm at Becco United Baptist Church with Pastor PJ Tomblin and Harold Blankenship officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery at Pecks Mill, WV. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Online condolences may be sent to www.krantzmcneelyfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home at Man.