Anna Blackburn, 90, of Bryant Street, Niles, died at 2:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at First Baptist Church in Niles, with Pastor James Wing officiating.

Committal will be at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles.

She was born on Feb. 10, 1919, in Vandalia, Ill. to Edward A. and Celia F. (Campbell) Royer.

She graduated from Leadwood High School in Leadwood, Mo. in 1937 and moved to Niles on Flag Day in 1937.

She retired from National-Standard Company after 33 years of service.

In the 1930s, she was formerly employed at United Dairy in Niles. She ran a bakery business out of her home in the mid-1940s.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Niles, where she held many board positions and offices, including being the church financial secretary, a Sunday school teacher, former head of the primary department, BYF counselor with her husband, former member of the 2X2 Class and also a lifetime member of Royal Neighbors.

Other than spending times with her family, her passion was gardening, cooking, baking, entertaining and camping.

On June 17, 1939, at the Saint John’s Evangelical Church in Niles, she married Kenneth L. Blackburn, who died on June 21, 2008.

She is survived by a daughter, Celia (Gary) Whittaker; a granddaughter, Angela (Frank) Vella; a great-grandson, Tyler Weedon, all of Niles; sisters-in-law, Jean Royer of Michigan City, Ind. and Juanita Royer of Canton, Ohio; brother-in-law, Dwain Blackburn of Matthews, N.C.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Eldon and Donna Jeam Blackburn of Niles and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister and brothers, Zoa (George Kasiak, Lloyd Royer, Vincent Royer, Walter (Mary) Royer and a sister-in-law, Roseanne Blackburn.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church in Niles.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.