A lifetime resident of Du Quoin, she was born here February 9, 1885, daughter of a pioneer family, the late Mr. and Mrs. Bayard T. Zeigler. On January 28, 1920, in Du Quoin, she married J. Ward Blakeslee, who preceded her in death. At the time of his death, he headed the Blakesle Manufacturing Company, an industry founded by his gandfather in 1864. After 88 years in operation, the business was sold in 1952 to a company in Salem, which later moved the heavy equipment and machinery to its new location in that city. The building which housed the Blakeslee Manufacturing Company, was purchased in 1953 by the late Chester Armstrong and his son Robert. The building today, house the Du Quoin Machine Works, owned and operated by Mayor Armstrong.

      Mrs. Blakeslee was a member of the First Baptist Church and, until her retirement worked as a clerk at Friedman's Dry Goods.

      Survivors included a nephew Ray S. Linzee Jr., of Du Quoin, three nieces, Mrs Mary Frances Ledoux of Onset, Mass., Mrs. Janet Bizell of Murphysboro and Mrs. harriette Palmer of St. Paul, Minn.

      In addition to her parents and husband, one sister, Miss Laura Zeigler, preceded her in death.

      Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m. from Keeling Funeral Home with Rev. John W. Somers officiating. Interment will be in IOOF Cemetery.