Ruby I. Blakeley

2:00 PM Saturday, August 2, 2008 First Baptist Church Ruby Inell Blakeley, 82, of Santa Fe died Thursday, July 24, 2008 at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe following hip surgery. Ruby was born June 21, 1926 in Pineville MO, the daughter of Eddie Lester Baker and Stella May Pendergraft Baker. She had two brothers and one sister. She graduated from White Rock High School in Jane MO, in 1944. Later in life she attended the Technical-Vocational School (now the Central New Mexico Community College) in Albuquerque for two years where she completed an information management program. Ruby was very independent, working outside the home as early as the 1950s to build a career in accounting. She was the office manager for Powers Construction in Albuquerque from 1961 to 1966, and later owned and operated Bosque Business Services in Bosque Farms from 1971 to 1976 and A-1 Business Services in Fort Sumner from 1983 to 1989, when she sold the business to Field Irwin and retired. Ruby married Beryl Austin Blakeley on Jan. 10, 1945, in Bentonville AR; they moved to New Mexico in 1958, making their home in the Albuquerque area for many years before moving to Fort Sumner in 1976. During their retirement, Ruby and Beryl bought, refurbished, and resold at least six houses in Fort Sumner. They moved to Santa Fe in January 2007 for medical reasons and to be with their family. Ruby was a member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner. She was reading the books of Proverbs and Revelations at the time of her death. She was preceded in death by her husband, Beryl, on June 14, 2008; a son Thomas A. Blakeley in 1989; a brother Donald E. Baker in 1964, and her parents. Survivors include a daughter, Berylene Rogers of Santa Fe, a son Dick Blakeley and wife Anne of Mountain View CA, and a daughter-in-law Sandra Borthwick of Seaside, CA; grandchildren Jon Mark Rogers and wife Lisa and Rhonda Rogers, all of Santa Fe; Thomas A. Blakeley II and wife Michelle, of Mountain View, CA; and Blair Blakeley Los Angeles, CA. She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Baker Dalton of Washburn MO, her brother Eddie Baker of Albuquerque, a sister-in-law Irene Coddington of Fort Sumner, and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Ruby was excited about her first great-grandchild, Madison Blakeley, who will arrive any day, and was planning to attend her daughter’s 60th birthday party on Aug. 2. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner, with Rev. Coy Brewer officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her four grandchildren and nephews Charles Baker of Edgewood, Daniel Dalton and David Dalton of Washburn MO, and Donald Baker and Sam Baker of Missouri. Visitation hours will be Thursday from 4PM to 6PM and Friday from 2PM to 6PM at the funeral home. The casket will be closed at the funeral. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church music department P.O. Box 287, Fort Sumner, NM 88119 or to the Baptist Children’s Home P.O. Box 629, Portales, NM 88130. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute, please go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com