Madelaine Blakley, 84, of Merritt Island Dies March 4

By Space Coast Daily // March 5, 2013

Obituary

MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA–Madelaine Self Blakley, 84, died peacefully surrounded by her family at home on Merritt Island, Florida and joined our Lord and Savior in Heaven on March 4, 2013.

Madelaine was born in Crosbyton, Texas to Lee and Hallie Self and was a long-time resident of El Paso. She moved to Merritt Island 11 years ago to be near family.

She is survived by her three loving daughters, Kim Smith Cooper and husband Ronald “Skip” Cooper of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Kerry Smith Palermo and husband Dr. Jim Palermo of Merritt Island; and Kathleen Hastie Baker of Merritt Island; brother Bob Self of El Paso; grandchildren Mark Cooper and wife Jenna, Kacie Cooper, Joe Palermo and wife Tammy, and Michelle Palermo; and great grandchildren Luke Cooper and Mason Palermo.

Madelaine was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Hallie Self, brother Mark Self and husband CC Blakley.

She worked for the El Paso Credit Bureau for 20 years and retired from civil service at White Sands Missile Range. She was also a fixture in Dr. Palermo’s front office on Merritt Island for several years.

She loved to sew and was a very accomplished and creative seamstress. Also an avid reader of a wide variety of literature, her favorite book was the Bible, which gave her comfort and guided her convictions throughout her life.

Devotion to family and her Christian faith were always her priorities. Her outlook as she approached the end of her life is best reflected in a quotation by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell, who is remembered mostly for his sentimental poetry dealing with the human condition. He wrote: “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

Madelaine has left her earthly home, but both she and those she leaves behind can be comforted by the love and memories she provided that will always be in their hearts.

A private family grave-side service is planned for Friday, March 8^th at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers, Madelaine asked that donations be made to the Central Brevard Humane Society.