Betty Jean (Crago) Blackburn

Betty Jean (Crago) Blackburn

Betty Jean (Crago) Blackburn, 91, of Mechanicsburg, and formerly of New Salem, passed away January 12, 2014, at the home of her daughter, Joyce (Blackburn) Longwell of Mechanicsburg.  She was born December 23, 1922, in New Salem, daughter of the late Ray and Maude Jeffries Crago.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, David G. Blackburn in 1997; brother William Ray Crago Jr.; sister, Charmaine (Crago) Alexander; and brother-in-law, Jack Alexander.

She was a lifelong member of the New Salem Presbyterian Church, where she served as Deacon, Nursery and Sunday School teacher and was a member of the Caldwell Class.  She was employed by Union Supply Company, Sherwin Williams Company and Uniontown Area School District.

Surviving are her three daughters, Mrs. Paul (Sharon) Nagy of Mercersburg, Pa., Mrs. Gilbert (Joyce) Longwell of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Mrs. Martin (Rebecca) Bavetz Sr. of New Salem, Pa.; eight grandchildren, David Nagy and wife, Becky, Matthew Nagy and wife, Jenny, Sarah (Nagy) Pananes and husband, Tony, Benjamin Nagy and friend, Angie McNulty, Laura (Longwell) Sutton and husband, Greg, Geoffrey Longwell, Jennifer (Bavetz) Chaikcic and husband, L. Craig, Martin Bavetz Jr. and wife, Bridget; ten great-grandchildren, Morgan, Aaron, Abigail, Hannah and Elizabeth Nagy, Blake and Hunter Chaikcic, Patrick and Nathan Sutton and Oliver Pananes; sister-in-law, Eleanor (Deal) Crago of Pittsburgh; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received in the Dearth Funeral Home, New Salem, Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Friday, January 17, 2014 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. followed by a service at 1:00 p.m. at New Salem Presbyterian Church with Reverend John Morrow officiating.  Interment will follow in Salem View Cemetery, New Salem.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Salem Presbyterian Church at 27 South Mill Street, New Salem, PA  15468.

Betty’s family has entrusted her local care to Myers–Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Betty’s full obituary and sign her official guest book at www.Myers-Buhrig.com .