Marlene “Molly” Blankenship Hurst was born Feb 4, 1944, to Reverend Virgil and Leona Blankenship of Alton, Mo. and departed on June 26, 2022.

Molly had a zest for life and could never sit still. If someone was in need, she was the first to offer up her help. She loved helping others and spent the last 14 years at Preferred Care at Home of Northeast Orlando doing just that. She was a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and beloved friend.

Molly loved nothing more than spending the day at the beach. This was her favorite place to be. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. One of her biggest regrets in life was not being able to spend more time with them. Her eyes would light up every time she spoke about them or saw a photo of one of them.

She is preceded in death by her parents Virgil and Leona (Storms) Blankenship, son, Jeffrey James, grandparents, John and Viola Blankenship and Perry Jake and Haiti Storms, two brothers, Harold James and James Ronnie and a host of other relatives.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Harry Hurst of Sikeston, Mo., her sons, Marty and Scotte Bates of Alton, Mo., her daughter, Shajuana Bates and husband Dean of Sikeston, Mo., two sisters, Darlene Johnson and husband Jerry of Alton, Mo., Marcia White and husband Dan of Gainesville, Va., one brother, Leroy Blankenship and wife Brenda of Henderson, Texas, 10 grandchildren, Heather Rodriguez and husband Gilbert, Micah Hennings and husband Jonathan, Jesse Bates and wife Hollie, Josie Bates, Jessica Bates, Cierra Weaver and husband Josh, Haleigh Rust and husband Logan, Devon Bates, Jaxon Bates and Karma Bates, seven great grandchildren, Dalton, Kaylee, Brennan, Camden, Tatum, Dawson, Elsie and Blair as well as many nieces and nephews.

There is a void in our hearts that can never be filled but we know that we now have a Guardian Angel keeping watch over us from above.

Visitation and viewing was held from 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Clary Funeral Home, Alton, Mo.

The Celebration of Life Service was held on Saturday, July 2 at 11 a.m. at Clary Funeral Home in Alton, Mo.