Norma Jean Buys Blakemore

Norma Jean Buys Blakemore, 89, of West Lafayette IN, passed away on January 19, surrounded by her husband and family.

Jeannie is survived by her husband James C. Blakemore, her children and their spouses, James C. Blakemore Jr. and Karen Blakemore, Jeffrey and Susan Blakemore and Jennifer Morrison, Janice Blakemore Gresser and John Gresser, and grandchildren and their spouses and partners Brandon Blakemore and Stephanie Graham Blakemore, Lauren and Sam Clegg, Kendra Blakemore and Sam Kissner, Andrew Blakemore, Eric Blakemore, Kevin and Karin Morrison, Karen Morrison, Maria and Jody Glaze, Elizabeth Gresser and Rebekah Gresser and great grandchildren Quinn Morrison, DeMira, Eowyn and Jaden Glaze.

Norma Jean Buys Blakemore, lovingly known as Jeannie, was born on July 15, 1931 to Glenn Edward Buys and Nellie Florence Hayes Buys in Mount Morris, Michigan. Jeannie graduated from Mount Morris High School in 1949 and after graduating, attended Taylor University and worked as a dental hygienist in Flint. In 1952, she met Dr. James C. Blakemore and the two became inseparable. They exchanged love letters during the Korean War and vows in 1954. Their marriage lasted over sixty six years and their children followed in their footsteps with long, happy marriages of their own.

Jeannie believed every person is to be a nurturing parent to every child they encounter, including the inner children of every adult. Her love for children was evident in the way she raised her four children and her work in the community. Up until her last moments, Jeannie’s children and grandchildren called and FaceTimed her regularly because of their deep love of the family she built. Even to her last moments, Jeannie stayed close to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her comfort in using FaceTime and other technology has been a blessing, enabling our family to show our love even when we cannot be physically together. Even hospitalization during a pandemic couldn’t prevent her children from being with her every second on video calls.

While raising her children, she pursued a degree in early childhood development and family studies from Purdue University and graduated with honors. She went on to complete her master’s in the same program with honors.
Jeannie impacted the community by creating a lending library for equipment for students with disabilities, implementing medical screening for Head Start and working at Wabash Center as an advocate for children and families. She took pride in leading the senior high school youth fellowship at the Federated Church She helped start Stewart House at Purdue University by being the first advisor along with her husband.

Jeannie was a true homemaker who loved to sew and made beautiful quilts and clothes for her children and grandchildren. She loved to cook and taught her family to enjoy foods from different cultures.

Jeannie loved people and lived life to the fullest. She was also a lifelong learner and teacher. Jeannie’s family would like to give special thanks to all the unseen heroes who took care of her and went above and beyond in their love, compassion and care for her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Jeannie with a donation to callmejeannie.com, a fund set up to create opportunities for children.

Due to the pandemic, the services will be online only January 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM via
Zoom. To access the livestream starting at 12:30 pm, go to Zoom.us then click “Join Meeting”.
Meeting id #83070626102 password 1111. https://zoom.us/meeting/83070626102 Password
1111 Join Zoom Meeting

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Jeannie was predeceased by her parents Glenn E Buys, Nellie Buys, Sister Betty Harcz, Brother George Edward Buys, Brother in law William Oscar Blakemore II, Niece Donna Harcz. She is survived by those listed above and sister in law Linda Burke, Pat Bouchard, brother in law Paul Harcz. by her nieces and nephews Ed Buys, Joe Harcz, Greg Harcz, Tom and Deb Harcz, Mike and Terri Harcz, Chris and Sheryl Harcz, Robin and Jim Norton, John and Betsy Harcz, David and Patty Harcz, Dante Blakemore, William Blakemore III, Nadine and Patrick Milostan, Allen and Chris Blakemore, Joel and Karla Blakemore, Keith Burke and partner Damian, Willy Burke, Ann Marie Cheezum.