Verna Faye (Lockard) Blankenship, 99, Adrian, Missouri, died Monday, November 30, 2015 at Adrian Manor in Adrian. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 5 at the Adrian Christian Church with burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, December 4, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian. Memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels, Butler, Missouri or to the charity of your choice.

Faye was born July 17,1916 in Warsaw, Missouri, the daughter of Max and Alma (Davenport) Miller. She attended a small country school near Warsaw before going two years at Adrian High School, then graduating from Appleton City in 1935. Faye married Emanuel Lee Lockard on December 24,1936. To this union three children were born, Gene, Dale, and Judy.

Faye taught Vacation Bible School, Jr. High Sunday School and Builders and Searchers adult class for many years; she also served as custodian. Faye loved to dig in the dirt and see things grow. She had big gardens and lots of pretty flowers. Her canned green beans were a family favorite. An exceptionally good seamstress, Faye made lots of her own clothes and sewed for her family and neighbors. She upholstered furniture and also enjoyed carpentry and tole painting Faye belonged to Jolly Dozen Extension Club, The Altona Community Club and was a 4H club leader.

Faye and Oscar Blankenship were married June 1, 1984 and Faye became step-mother to Martha Cummings, Dick Blankenship, and Anne Waite, Ruth Hinten and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, 1 Son Dale Lockard, 1 Granddaughter Angela Crippen and a Sister Marianna Fritts. Faye is survived by Gene (Sue) Lockard, Judy (Bob) Schnoebelen of Butler Missouri; and daughter-in-law, Ruby Lockard of Adrian, Missouri; sister, Edna Foster; 9 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.