Inez Cloninger Blakely

Inez Eugenia Cloninger Blakely, 94, of Statesville, formerly of Ellerbe, died Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at Autumn Care of Statesville. Mrs. Blakely was born January 10, 1916 in Richmond County to Fred Nimbs Cloninger, Sr. and Minnie Demory Dellinger Cloninger. She was a graduate of Ellerbe High School, Class of 1932. She was a farm wife and Licensed Practical Nurse. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ellerbe where she served as a Sunday School teacher and other capacities prior to moving to Statesville. Mrs. Blakely had a life-long love of reading and of local and family history. In addition to working as a Licensed Practical Nurse, she also worked for several years at the Rankin Museum of American Heritage in Ellerbe. Mrs. Blakely was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Stewart Blakely who died October 17, 1986. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by siblings Tom Hunter Cloninger (d. April 19, 1993), Perry Landis Cloninger (d. February 12, 1912), Mozelle Stringfield Cloninger Wilson (d. October 21, 2001) and Paul Moose Cloninger (d. September 8, 1941). Surviving are her children John Reynolds and Linda Morris Blakely of Statesville, Jane Stewart and James Alfred Hutchinson, II of Pompano Beach, FL, and Bruce Frederick and Janice Smith Blakely of Indian Trail. Mrs. Blakely was blessed with 5 grandchildren: John Thomas and Teresa Ledford Blakely of Mount Airy, GA and their daughter Kendell Paige Blakely; Brian Craig and Marga Lopez Blakely of Rockville, MD and children Daniel Lance Blakely and Noelia and Oriol Mora-Lopez; James Alfred and Michelle Della-Chiara Hutchinson, III and daughter Brittany Nicole Hutchinson of Yorba Linda, CA; John Charles and Connie Graves Hutchinson of Canton, GA and children John Austin, McKaila Taylor, Jacob Allen and Emily Anne Hutchinson; and, Jennifer Stewart Blakely of Cincinnati, OH. In addition, Mrs. Blakely is survived by a sister, Nancy Adelaide Cloninger Mills and brother, Fred Nimbs Cloninger, Jr., both of Ellerbe and well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Carter Funeral Home in Ellerbe with Dr. Jim Brown and Dr. Marvin Boyer officiating. Interment will follow in Ellerbe Cemetery. The family will see friends from 9:45 – 10:45 am Saturday at Carter Funeral Home in Ellerbe. Memorials may be made to The Rankin Museum of American Heritage, P. O. Box 499, Ellerbe, NC 28338 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.