Violet Reed

Violet Blankenship Reed 79, of Floral died March 24th. Visitation will be at 1:00pm Saturday March 28th with Funeral Service at 2:00pm Saturday March 28th under the direction of Willis Funeral Service. Interment will be in Floral at Old Union Cemetery.
Violet was born November 27, 1935 in Midland, Texas. She was the daughter of Ida W. Angel and W.T. (Ted) Blankenship.

Survivors include two sons, Vance Reed of Batesville and Eric Reed of Southside. Her daughter-in-law Laura McAdams Reed. One daughter, Renee Ramsey and son-in-law Danny Ramsey of Floral. One brother, Vernon Blankenship of Booneville, six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents - Ted and Ida Blankenship, one brother T.W. Blankenship, one sister, Arzella Davis, one daughter Yevette Reed, and one son, Clint Reed.

Violet was a member of Floral Baptist Church and gave her soul to Jesus at the age of fourteen.

During her lifetime she was a wife and homemaker, and an employee of the state and federal government. She owned and operated a day care center in Little Rock and Floral. She enjoyed learning new skills and went to vocational school in Little Rock to better support her family. She received training in law, accounting, management, typing, and shorthand. She worked at International Harvester, Employment Security, and as a legal secretary. In her later years she worked as a caregiver and rehab aide and enjoyed helping older people.

Violet was a caring, dedicated worker, and always strove to do her best whatever the job - chopping cotton in the August Arkansas heat or preparing budgets at midnight for a meeting in Dallas the next day. She had amazing carpentry and masonry skills - designing and building her own home with the help of her sons. She enjoyed oil painting, writing poetry, composing songs - both lyrics and music; she enjoyed writing and wrote several books. Music was a big part of her life growing up and she loved all kinds of music. She sang, played the guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and piano. She enjoyed genealogy and researching Floral and family history. Many happy hours were spent learning about her ancestors, friend's family ancestors and making written records for family and friends.

She was a loyal, caring daughter, granddaughter, sister, wife, aunt, grandmom, and friend. Most of all she was an extremely dedicate faithful Mother; perhaps her life's work on this earth was rearing and providing for her children. We find comfort in her love for us and knowing she is now pain free and resting in the loving arms of her God and Savior.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Violet Blankenship Reed's memory to the Family Violence Prevention Agency, P.O.Box 2943 Batesville, AR 72503 and the AR Baptist Children's Home 10 Remington Drive Little Rock, AR 72204