Irene Virginia Blodgett

Irene Blodgett, 87, of Independence, MO passed away on December 22, 2006 at the Carmel Hills Living Center. A visitation will be held from 1-2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 26, at the Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington, Independence, MO. The service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel. Burial at Mound Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New Hope Baptist Church Building Fund. Irene was born on May 12, 1919 in Bern, KS to Guy David and Mary Margaret Griffith. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church, a member of a Quilt Club, which enjoyed getting together in fellowship and good times, and she was a historian for the Independence Old Town Pack. She loved the many years she spent waitressing and running her caf�s here in Independence. For the last 30 years, her passion was serving as a bookkeeper and receptionist at Claudia�s School of Gymnastics and Dance, where she became "Grandma� to hundreds of children. Irene was preceded in death by her husband, R.J. Blodgett; her parents; three brothers; one sister; and one grandson, C.J. Case. She is survived by one daughter, Claudia Thompson and husband Larry; four grandchildren, Chip Thompson and wife Vickey, Debra Barnett and husband Les, Rhonda Barber and husband Jim, Vern Thompson and wife Kathy; three brothers, Rex Griffith and wife Jean, Max Griffith and wife Margaret, Don Griffith; seven great grandchildren, Amy, Tiffany, David, Jacob, Trenton, Savannah, Stirling; three great-great grandchildren, Stephanie, Derrick, Krysta; and many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed.