Karen Andria Blankenship's Obituary
Karen Andria Blankenship, 62, a 35-year resident of Fort Myers, FL, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, December 31, 2020 in the care of Hope Hospice. She was born August 21, 1958 in Lexington, KY.
Andi enjoyed a thirty-year career in the furniture and interior design industry. She spent her last years as a design assistant with Collins & DuPont Design Group in Bonita Springs, FL. She had a passion for arts and crafts; she loved sewing, making fused glass jewelry, and knitting. She had an innate ability for art, even forms she had never worked in before – from paper graphics and Halloween costumes, to vacation bible school props and stage design -- she picked it up effortlessly and managed to outperform the experts. One of her biggest pleasures was using her talents to teach Sunday school at Thrive Community Church.
The cornerstones of Andi’s life were her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and her steadfast commitment to family. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, revealing her love of Christ through the love and care she shared with everyone she met. She was a selfless woman, spending her time in her later years feeding the homeless of Fort Myers at a downtown park. She raised her three children under these values. All three have grown into adults that she could be proud of, because of the family leadership that she, in partnership with her husband, took charge of and maintained.
She loved walking on the beach, scouting for seashells, watching the sunset. She was a phenomenal conversationalist, mostly due in part to her ability to listen. She was a brilliant mediator and always gave the best advice. She will be duly missed.
Andi is survived by her loving husband of 39 years, Jeffrey Blankenship of Fort Myers, FL; three children, Joshua Blankenship (Elizabeth) of Largo, FL, Jacob Blankenship of Fort Myers, FL and Kathryn Blankenship of Largo, FL; one sister, Allison Hale (Hugh) of Winchester, KY; three brothers, Steve Bowlds (Danna) of Lexington, KY, Brad Bowlds (Laura) of Lexington, KY and Dan Bowlds (Natasha) of Laurel, MD; her father, Marnell Bowlds (Pat) of Viera, FL; an adored grandson that is due in February; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Graver Johnson.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, FL 33919.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Thrive Community Church, 20041 S. Tamiami Trail #1, Estero, FL 33928 or to Hope Hospice Healthpark, 9470 Healthpark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908 in loving memory of Andi Blankenship.
Final arrangements have been entrusted to Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907.
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