Irene Blake

Longtime Coffeyville resident, Irene Hazel (Rankin) Blake, 91, passed away peacefully at Windsor Place in Coffeyville on Monday, March 16, 2020.

Irene was born the only child to Frank and Ruth (Carr) Rankin on May 2, 1928 in Mountain Grove, Missouri. Irene graduated from Chanute High School in 1947. On April 12, 1952 she married Raymond Blake at the Assembly of God Church in Coffeyville, Kansas. With this union, Irene welcomed 4 daughters, Rita, Vicki, Denise, and Sherri. Through the years, Irene was employed at various retail stores around Coffeyville. Irene was the secretary at Sunday School Class at the First Southern Baptist Church in Coffeyville, a member of the Senior Citizens Club and travelled with the Heritage Club. Irene loved to travel, read her Bible, and tend to her flower gardens. Most of all, Irene loved the time she spent with her family. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.

Irene is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond, and her parents, Frank and Ruth (Carr) Rankin.

Those left to carry on Irene’s memory include, daughters, Rita Whittington of Coffeyville, Vicki and husband Charles Thomas of Coffeyville, Denise Yeubanks and Randy Mattix of Coffeyville and Sherri and husband Tom Pauzauskie of Caney, ten grandchildren, and twenty great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that a donation be made to the American Diabetes Association in Irene’s name. Memorials may be left with Potts Chapel. Friends are welcomed to sign the book at Potts Chapel on Friday, March 19th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.  A private family service will be held on Monday, March 23, 2020 at 1:00 pm with interment immediately following at Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence, Kansas. To leave the family a special message of condolence, please visit www.pottsfuneralhome.com.