Irene Blackwell Lester Mills

Irene Blackwell Lester Mills

Irene Blackwell Lester Mills, 82 of Beckley, WV, passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughter Carol, granddaughter Tara, and other loving family members. Irene now resides in her eternal home with her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Born July 23, 1929 in Dott, WV, she was the biological daughter of Woodie Crigger and Sidney Claude Blackwell. She was also the adopted daughter of Lacey Blankenship and Ranie Blankenship Hatcher.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her first husband, Shuford Carlos Lester, and her second husband, Walter Grey Mills. One son, Carlos Lester; one daughter, Connie Lester Cash; four brothers, James Blackwell, Robert Blackwell, Earl Blackwell, and Carl Blackwell; three sisters, Margret Pauline Shupe, Thelma Blackwell, and Ethel Blackwell and one stepson, Cletus Mills.
Those left to cherish her memories are her son, Mickey Lester and wife Mickey of Lizton, IN; daughter Carol Stone and husband Jim of Granite Falls, NC; another son Phil Lester and wife Dee Dee of Beckley, WV; and stepson, James Mills of Sophia, WV. Irene had 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Irene was loved by so many friends; we could not mention all names.
Irene attended Stepping Stone Community Church. She was a military wife in her early life and a coal miner's wife in the later life. She loved her children and grandchildren more than herself; Irene was both mother and father to her children and raised them all alone after the death of her first husband, Shuford. She loved fishing and farm life as well as taking long walks in the woods. Irene also loved taking drives all over the WV Mountains in her little red sports car. The thing she loved most in life was watching her grandchildren laugh and play around her home. Irene was also a woman of great knowledge. She taught many of her family members how to become independent as well as teaching her daughter-n-laws to become good wive's and women of God. Thank you, Irene for your love and support to all your family and friends.
The Lord gave us extra time with Irene. She was diagnosed with cancer and was not expected to live more than 3 months twenty years ago. Her work for the Lord was not finished and she was healed of her cancer.
Irene worked many years in manufacturing and grocery, but loved being a homemaker the most.
Services will be held 11:00AM Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley with Pastor Jeff Perdue officiating and assisted by Assistant Pastor Shane Kinzel. Family member will also be speaking in memory of Irene. Following the funeral Irene will be laid to rest at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens beside her second husband Walter Mills. Pallbearers will be Frank Wilson, Claude Blackwell, Mike Lester, Brian Lester, and Matt Lester.
Friends may gather with the family from 10:00 until time of the service Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to : Caldwell Hospice and Talliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St. NW, Lenora, NC 28045.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralhome.com
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr. Beckley, WV