Mary June Blackford's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Mary June (Bland) Blackford, age 87 of Charleston, passed away on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at her Gowin Parc home in Mattoon. No visitation or services are planned and in accordance with Mary June's wishes her physical body has been unselfishly gifted to the Anatomical Gift Association for the training of medical personnel and the advancement of medical science through education and research. Her remains will later be inurned in Mound Cemetery, Charleston. It is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her honor be made to the EIU Foundation for either the Mary June Bland Blackford Nursing Scholarship or the Miriam McMahan Early Childhood Education Scholarship. Gifts may be mailed to EIU Foundation, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920. Arrangements have been entrusted to Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. Mary June was born on May 12, 1925 in Mattoon, Illinois, the younger of two daughters born to the late Dow and Opal (Brackin) Brand. Mary June and her sister, Miriam Bland McMahan, remained close throughout their lives. Mary June lived in Pemberton Hall while attending Eastern Illinois University and it was there she met many of her life-long friends. She later transferred to Wesleyan School of Nursing in Chicago where she graduated from Nurses' Training and began a very long and rewarding career at Eastern Illinois University in Health Services working for Dr. Jerry Heath. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the students and acted as College Chapter Director of Delta Sigma Epsilon, which later merged with Delta Zeta. She retired from EIU in 1984 as Head Nurse of Health Services. As a single woman, she was able to travel extensively with friends by camper or jet throughout much of America and Europe. She married Harold T. Blackford, a former Naval Lt. Commander, on October 12, 1978 and they made their home on ""Hodgen's Pond"" located on Tyler Avenue in Charleston. Mary June was fond of the pond and her dachshund dogs which gave her great joy and companionship as Harold passed away only two years after their marriage. Mary June was a member of First Christian Church in Mattoon and the United States Cadet Corps of Nursing. She enjoyed playing sports - basketball was her first love and swimming followed a close second. Mary June is survived by two nieces, Joan McMahan of Greenville, SC and Jane (McMahan) Parker of Lenoir City, TN; a nephew, Robert Blackford and wife Jan of Stuart, FL; a great-nephew, Nathaniel Parker of Knoxville; and three great-nieces, Meredith and Melinda McMahan, both of Greenville and Melissa (Parker) Scoble of Knoxville; and one great-great-nephew, Parker Cartwright Scoble, also of Knoxville. Mary June is survived by numerous cousins and friends including a very special friend, Chris Gebben and wife Diane of Mattoon. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary June was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Miriam and Milton McMahan and their son, Milton (Mack) McMahan, Jr.
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