Jan Blackledge

Evalyn Janet “Jan” Blackledge of Idaho Falls, Idaho passed into the light on March 21st at the age of 96, surrounded by the love of her family and close friends. She is preceded in transition by her parents and two older siblings, brother Ansel Marcellus Smith and sister Leola Electa Moody. Her husband, Richard L. Blackledge of Idaho Falls and two daughters, Mary Lou Blackledge-Kortz of Denver, Colorado and Susan James, also of Idaho Falls, survive her. The couple was blessed with four lovely, talented granddaughters and six great-grandchildren.

Jan was born on February 24, 1922 to Almetta Estella Van DeVenter Smith and Jesse William Smith in Imperial, NE. She was voted “most likely to succeed” and “most popular” in her graduating high school class due to her lively and outgoing nature and wholehearted interest in others. These qualities continued to distinguish her, as she became the youngest person ever to be hired as the Deputy County Clerk of the District Court in Chase County, Nebraska, and later as a United Airlines ticketing agent at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. On one of the most momentous blind dates ever, Jan met her future husband, Richard L. Blackledge, an aviation veteran of WWII. The two began a courtship that never really ended. They were married on April 3, 1949 in Wauneta, Nebraska, and would have celebrated their 69th anniversary on April 3 of this year. Truly, theirs was an “epic love affair” and partnership that has deeply inspired all who knew them.

Dick’s work in newspapers first carried them to Grand Junction, Colorado, where daughters Susan Zoe and Mary Lou were born. In 1963, the family moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Dick worked for the Atomic Energy Commission and subsequently for the Department of Energy. Jan continued to be successful as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and best friend of many. She served five terms as President of the Idaho Falls BI Chapter of PEO, an international women’s organization, and was active in St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Jan spent her last years at Morningstar Senior Living Community, where she continued to win friends and make the world a better place just by being in it. In the words of a dear friend, “our loss is heaven’s gain;” but our lives will continue to be blessed by memories of her bright and happy ways.

Jan’s life will be celebrated at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 1730 St Clair Rd, Idaho Falls, ID. Officiant will be Pastor Nancy Amos. Interment will be at Fort Logan in Denver, CO in June of 2018.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cottey College, a PEO charity. Checks may be made out to Cottey College Institutional Advancement and sent to 1000 West Austin, Nevada, Missouri 64772 along with a note “in memory of Jan Blackledge.”

Condolences for the family may be sent to www.woodfuneralhome.com.

Celebration of Life

1:00 PM ,Saturday, March 31, 2018 St. Paul's United Methodist Church 1730 St. Clair Idaho Falls, ID, Bonneville 83404