Beverly Joan Blankenship, 84, passed away peacefully in her Mesa home on January 10, 2021. Joan was born January 21, 1936 in Pawhuska,Oklahoma to Maynard and Beverly Tanner.
Joan’s early childhood years were spent in Hamilton, KS. Her father served in World War II and the family lived in Hamilton with her grandparents until her father returned from the war. Her family moved to Russell, KS in 1945 where she was raised and graduated from Russell High School. After graduating Russell High School in 1954, Joan attended Independence Junior College for a year. After college she worked for the U.S. Housing department in Washington D.C. and then moved back to Kansas and married Jack Blankenship in 1957. They were married for 28 years and had four children where she enjoyed being a homemaker and Mother to her family. Joan enjoyed reading, politics, sports and spending time with family. She is preceded in death by her father Maynard Blair Tanner and her mother Beverly Neva Tanner.
Joan’s kids were everything to her. She is survived by her four children; daughters Cindy Barz (Joe), Melissa Hale (Steven) and Joni Harding (Wade) and son Jack Blankenship (Julie). She has seven grandchildren, “the lights of her life”, Brittani, Brianne , Natascha, Samantha, Chase, Taylor and Joshua. Joan’s great grandchildren brought her much joy later in life. She always enjoyed the time she spent with her “great-grands” Brody, Bennett, Brylie, Beckam, and Brooks as well as her step great grandchildren Casey, Mikey, Spencer and William. She is also survived by her sister Janet (Walter), her brother Jim (Norma), and nephews and niece Jimmy, Jeff, John, Craig, Randy and Sandy.
A memorial service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa on February 22nd at 3:00 PM with a private family gathering to follow.
The family would like to thank all of the wonderful people who kept Joan in prayer and kept vigil with us during this difficult time. We know that she felt the love and encouragement profoundly as she made her way home.