MABEL BLAKESLEE obituary

CHINOOK - Mabel L. Blakeslee, 95, died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital due to natural causes.

A funeral service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, with burial following at 2 p.m. in Harlem Cemetery.

Mabel was born Aug. 24, 1909, 22 miles north of Harlem on the Snider Ranch to Ralph B. and Elizabeth A. (Pennock) Snider. She was raised on the family ranch and attended school at Snider's School. Mabel grew up during the Depression, and she worked hard alongside of her mother and brothers on the family ranch.

She learned to be a ranch hand, a life that was held dear to her heart. She broke and trained many horses, and loved to ride the range gathering cattle and wild horses to ship out in the fall. She had a great love for animals, especially dogs and horses. Throughout her life, she always had a dog by her side.

Mabel married Tom McCoy in 1932 and they later divorced. In 1941, she married G.L. LaBar, who died in a hunting accident in 1956. Mabel married Frank Blakeslee on July 13, 1963.

Mabel saw the horse and buggy days and the landing of the first man on the moon. She was grateful to a full and good life and never complained of the hardships they all endured through the years. Mabel appreciated her chances to experience all the changes that took place in her lifetime. Her goal was to always make her family happy. She had a smile and always something nice and friendly to say.

Mabel was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Blakeslee, in 1992, and by son James McCoy in 1997.

Mabel is survived by daughters, Connie Anderson of Chinook and Pat Blakeslee Broadus of Great Falls; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Ren's Rescue in Kremlin, Kitty Keepers in Havre or the Gift of Life Housing in Great Falls.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.