Ella Elizabeth Lucas

Ella Elizabeth Blakey was born on May 21, 1944 to Nathaniel and Josephine Blakey in Yankton, South Dakota. Ella was the second child out of eight: Eugene, Kathryn, Deloris, Arlys, Raymond, Robert and James. She attended Grove Elementary School, Yankton Junior High School and graduated from Yankton Senior High School. Ella was a very bright student who got straight A’s and never had to study for any tests. Her favorite class in high school was Home Economics. In this class she learned to cook and to sew. She excelled in both classes and her delicious meals (Macaroni & Cheese) was always a family favorite. She loved to sew and made dresses for herself and her daughters and a suit for her husband. She made purses, personalized specialty handbags and pillows. Ella loved challenges and nothing seemed too hard for her. Ironically, she met her future husband while she and her sisters were cruising down Main Street in Yankton after returning from an annual vacation with the family. Since the town was small, one quickly took note of new faces. Upon seeing two young men pass by, Kathy did a quick ”U turn” and caught up with the car. We stopped to chat with them and found out John and his friend Dennis were new students at Yankton College. At first glance, John knew this was the love of his life. Ella was united in marriage to John Melvin Lucas, Jr. on June 2, 1965, which was John’s 21st birthday! They were married for 57 years. To this union they were blessed with two daughters, Tina and Angela. Ella was baptized into the Adventist Church as a result of her acquaintance with John. She was an active member of Allon Chapel SDA Church where she enjoyed fellowship until her recent illness kept her from fulfilling her duties. She served in various capacities including Deaconess, an Ordained Elder, Sabbath School Superintendent and most recently she served as Church Clerk. When they were first married Ella and John lived in St. Joseph, Missouri. During this time, she was employed at Quaker Oats. John loved to travel so she and the girls were afforded the opportunity to travel to various states on vacation. Since John was an Elementary School Teacher and loved adventure, he accepted different teaching assignments in Adventist Church Schools in other states. The assignment she looked forward to him fulfilling the most was when he accepted an assignment to teach at Helen Hiatt SDA Elementary School in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1977. She would then be closer to her family. When they moved to Lincoln, Ella accepted a position at State Farm and was employed there until her retirement in 2017.

Ella is preceded in death by her parents, Nathaniel and Josephine Blakey and brother Raymond Henry Blakey.

Ella was loved by many and will be missed by many. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memories, her beloved husband, John Lucas, Jr.; Daughters: Tina Lucas (Kansas City, MO) and Angela Lucas-Cook (Richard) (St. Joseph, MO; Brothers: Eugene Blakey (Des Moines, IA), Robert Blakey (Omaha, NE) and James Blakey (St. Joseph, MO); Sisters: Kathryn Blakey, Deloris Starks and Arlys Blakey all of Omaha, NE; Loving Friend, Margie Pernell (Silva, IL); Grandchildren: Quentin Lucas, Bryston Lucas, Jay Lucas, Jourdon Lucas, Makavion Lucas all of St. Joseph, MO; Great Grandchildren; Kha-tye Lucas and Zarion Lucas both of St. Joseph, MO and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.