Clytell Blankenship

Clytell was born in Big Sandy, Texas the daughter of James E. and Ora Lee (Willoughby) Howard. Clytell and her family moved to Orange, Texas to work during WWII. She married George Brown in 1943, and twins, Anthony Lane and Anthoinette Elaine, were born in 1944. After the end of WWII and her divorce, she moved back to Big Sandy. She married Billy Blankenship in 1952, and lived in several places in Texas while he completed his education. She worked at several jobs including a chicken processing plant, variety store, and as a seamstress in a clothing factory. In 1960, they moved to Hobbs, New Mexico. Clytell went to night school and received her high school diploma from Hobbs High School in 1967, and enrolled in New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs to study accounting. She worked as a sales clerk in another variety store, credit union, bank teller, and her last position was in accounting with Texaco. She retired in 1989, and she and Billy moved to Willmar, MN in 2003.

She died peacefully at Bethesda Grand, her home for the past 6 years. She is survived by her children, A. Lane (and Yolanda) Brown and A. Elaine (and Jimmy) Widner; grandchildren, Cary (Victoria) Battishill, Amy (Claude) Verdugo, Lee Ann (Pablo) Rodriguez, and Jason (Heather) Brown; great grandchildren, Jacob Battishill, Blair Battishill, Maya Brown, Aidan Brown, Tyler Brown, Pablo Rodriguez, Andres Rodriguez, Kalei Verdugo, Madison Widner, and Zachary Widner; great great grandson Paxton Battishill.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy, parents, brothers De Narl, Aubrey, and J.H. Howard, and sister Marcell Caviness; grandsons Justin Widner and Brandon Widner, and great granddaughter Cailyn Brown.

We extend our appreciation and gratitude to the Bethesda East Nurses and Social workers, CNA’s, activities, culinary, scheduling and transportation, and maintenance staff for the wonderful care and concern for Clytell.

There will also be a memorial service at Croley Funeral Home, Gilmer, Texas on Aug 15.

Interment at Hoover Cemetery, Big Sandy, Texas.