Eva L. Blakely

Eva Lueen Blakely, 89, passed away September 13, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 30, 2023 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines with a visitation from 10 a.m. until service time at McLaren’s. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

Eva was born in Abilene, Kansas to Rayfield and Vondetta F. Scroggins on June 22, 1934. She attended public schools in Abilene and Salina, Kansas until the 10th grade, and then moved to Des Moines, Iowa with her mother and stepfather, James O. Mason, graduating from North High School in 1952. Eva moved to California to attend Contra Costa Junior College for a year to pursue an English major.

She married Donald C. Blakely February 1, 1958, and welcomed their first child, Celeste C. (Blakely) Moore December 4, 1958. Eva followed her husband, Don, to Turkey and then several duty stations in the U.S. with the last duty station being Lowrey AFB in Colorado where they purchased their home and she worked for IBM. During that time, she gave birth to a son, Eric Ray James Blakely, who only stayed with us 19 hours after birth. In 1970, she returned to Des Moines

with her daughter to reinvent her life. She worked for the City of Des Moines Public Health Department, then for Parks and Recreation Department for a total of 21 years retiring in 1996. She was an active member of St. Paul AME Church in Des Moines from her early teens until 2006. As a teenager she was part of the choir at St. Paul, always remembering the fun she had. She was part of the Stewardess board until her Parkinson’s tremors prompted her slow down. Eva has fed, bathed, entertained, potty trained and sheltered a host of cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Eva will be missed by her daughter, Celeste C. (Blakely) Moore of Des Moines; brother Howard Scroggins of Minneapolis, MN; cousin, Cecil Roy Scroggins of Denver CO; grandchildren, Larry D. Moore II and Carlton C. (Amber) Moore; great-grandchildren, Larry Jeredhia Moore III, Temperance Ann Moore, and Zamya Charis Moore; nephew, Clifton L. Slaughter; great-nephew, Clifton R. (Hannah) Slaughter; and great-niece Monica (Milo) Miles; the surviving Lewis family, Brenda Matthews, Herman Lewis, Pamela Lewis, Pamela Brewer-Lewis and friends. She is preceded in rest by her son, Eric; mother, Vondetta F. Mason; father, Rayfield Scroggins; stepfather, James O. Mason; sister, Celesta Lavern (Lawrence) James, and a host of family members waiting to receive her energy.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Paul AME Building Fund.