Loreen Eloise Blakeman, age 93, of Blue Springs, MO, formerly of Lakeland, FL, passed away peacefully of natural causes on October 27, 2015. Loreen was born on June 23, 1922, in Creston, Iowa, to Hobart McKinley and Cora Belle (Madden) Thomas. She lived in Creston until her senior year of high school when the family relocated to Indianapolis, IN, where she graduated from Shortridge High School in 1940. She then attended Butler University in Indianapolis where she met and married Tom Markin in 1942. The couple had three children and lived in Creston, Iowa, until 1956 when they relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In 1961 they moved to Lakeland, FL. The couple later divorced. In Lakeland Loreen finished her degree at Florida Southern College earning a BS in Education. She taught math in the Polk County, FL, public schools for 25 years where she was awarded many honors and awards. She loved teaching and was always looking for new ways to motivate her students. In 1965 Loreen married Frank Leslie Blakeman. She remained in Lakeland until 2002 when she moved to Blue Springs, MO.
In addition to being a teacher, Loreen had many outside interests and talents. She was a gifted musician, playing the piano, organ, and trombone. In her younger years she often served as a piano accompanist and played the organ at church. Loreen also loved knitting, crocheting, and needlepoint, and she was a talented seamstress as well. She created many beautiful sweaters, and blankets for her family, sewed clothing, drapes and bedspreads, and was one of those moms in the 50’s who stayed up until the wee hours sewing dance costumes. She had a sharp mind, was a voracious reader, played bridge, and loved crossword puzzles. Loreen had a deep love of her family, and always had time for her children and grandchildren. She was the center of family celebrations where she often did all the cooking for a crowd. She will be greatly missed by her loving family.
Loreen is survived by her children: Tod Markin of St. Petersburg, FL, Teri Quick (Ted) of The Villages, FL, and Tina Peil (Mitchell) of Blue Springs, MO; five grandchildren: Bradley Gibson, Stacey Phillips (Andrew), Chet Gibson, Shelley Lejeune (Arnaud), and Stephanie Lutes (Joseph); and five great grandchildren: Augustus, Isaac and Xavier Phillips, Émile Lejeune, and Roman Lutes. She also has several step-children and step-grandchildren.
Loreen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, and her brother, Howard Daryl Thomas.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family suggests contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association-Heart of America Chapter, in Memory of Loreen Blakeman. 3846 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, KS 66208.
Or give online at: https://www.alz-heartofamerica.org/donate/TributeMemorial.aspx