Eva Lefler Bleakley

Friday, April 26, 2002

Eva Lefler Bleakley, daughter of the lat George and Lucy Lee Boatwright Barnes, was born in Lilbourn, Mo., on Dec. 31, 1907, and died at the Crystal Oaks Skilled Nursing Center in Crystal City, Mo., on April 25, 2002, at the age of 94. Mrs. Bleakley had moved from Hayti to Dexter in 1946, where she was a restaurant owner and had also worked at Elder Manufacturing. She has lived in the Pevely/Crystal City areas since 1990, and was affiliated with the Baptist church. On Jan. 20, 1923, she was married to Wilson R. Lefler in New Madrid. He preceded her in death on Dec. 31, 1968. In 1980, she married Ralph Bleakley and he also preceded her in death. Surviving are three sons, Larry Lefler of Ste. Genevieve, Jerry Lefler of Malden and Bill Lefler of Hemet, Calif.; four daughters, Beulah Adams and Betty Sloan, both of Flint, Mich., Dorothy Valek of Hemet, Calif., and June Davis of Pevely; 30 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren. Other relatives and many friends also survive. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Louella, two sons, Wilson Lefler, Jr., and Richard Lefgler, and one brother, Edward Barnes. Visitation will be held this evening, Friday, April 26, from 5-8 at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27, i the Watkins & Sons Chapel, Dexter, with the Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter officiating. Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.

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