Lena Jane (Nelson) Blacksmith, 61, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Monday, January 6, 2025 surrounded by love, after battling pancreatic cancer.
The daughter of the late Eugene and Roseva (Brookbank) Nelson, she was born May 6, 1963 in Kirksville, Missouri. Lena married David Sullivan in January of 1983 and to this union two children were born. In March of 2009, Lena married Michael Blacksmith.
Lena is survived by her husband Michael of the home; her son Eric (Jo) Sullivan of Hurricane, Utah; her daughter, Heather (Clint) Parks of Greentop, MO; step daughter, Stephanie (Joe) Mitchell of Key West, FL; two brothers, Larry (JoAnne) Nelson of OR, and Terry (Sara) Nelson of Perry, MO; three sisters, Linda (Sattar) Hussein of OK, Ann (Michael) Gilsdorf of Gladstone, MO, and Lila Beaty of Kirksville, MO; five grandchildren, Kaelyn (Colten) Lang, Adyson (Nathan) Sullivan, Reese Sullivan, Jackson Montgomery, and Jersey Sullivan; 2 step-grandchildren, CJ Parks and Jack Mitchell; as well as one great grandchild, Paislee Long; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grand parents; step-son, Grant Blacksmith; brothers-in-law, Jeff Whittom and Bobby Beaty; and her special friend Marilyn Powell.
Lena has been cremated and a Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2025 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home with Vince Winn presiding. The family will receive friends before the service from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. in the chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to her husband, Michael Blacksmith and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.