Neva Arleen Blackburn
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Neva Arleen Blackburn, 80, of Du Quoin, passed away at 8:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 at the Fairview Nursing Center in Du Quoin.
Neva was a homemaker. She was a member of the Spirit of Life Christian Church in Du Quoin.
She was born Jan. 3, 1931 at San Mateo, Calif., the daughter of John Byron and Madge Aileen (Myers) Whitson.
She married Curtis Lynn Blackburn on Jan. 22, 1949 at Tacoma, Wash. and he preceded her in death on Sept. 28, 1986.
She is survived by four children - Debra Oxford and husband Don of Du Quoin, Dennis Blackburn of Pinckneyville, Angie Heath of Elkville, and Deneva Torres and husband Danny of Elkville, 11 grandchildren - Christina (Oxford) Caraker of Du Quoin, Thomas Oxford of Salem, Ore., Nicole (Judd) Searles of Augusta, Maine, Rebecca (Judd-Torres) Powell of Fresno, Calif., Katrina (Torres) Smith of Visalia, Calif., Curtis Blackburn II of Augusta, Maine, Lucinda Shore (Torres) of Lakewood, Wash., Daniel J. Torres of Visalia, Calif., Karla Torres of Tacoma, Wash., Dennis Blackburn Jr. of Washington and Angel Blackburn of Washington and numerous great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson - John W. Stratemeyer, and great granddaughter - Kaitlynn D. Caraker.
Per Mrs. Blackburn's request, cremation services were held.
Services were to be held at a later date.
Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin is in charge of arrangements.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.