Lena Jane (Nelson) Blacksmith, 61, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Monday, January 6, 2025 surrounded by love, after battling pancreatic cancer.

The daughter of the late Eugene and Roseva (Brookbank) Nelson, she was born May 6, 1963 in Kirksville, Missouri. Lena married David Sullivan in January of 1983 and to this union two children were born. In March of 2009, Lena married Michael Blacksmith.

Lena is survived by her husband Michael of the home; her son Eric (Jo) Sullivan of Hurricane, Utah; her daughter, Heather (Clint) Parks of Greentop, MO; step daughter, Stephanie (Joe) Mitchell of Key West, FL; two brothers, Larry (JoAnne) Nelson of OR, and Terry (Sara) Nelson of Perry, MO; three sisters, Linda (Sattar) Hussein of OK, Ann (Michael) Gilsdorf of Gladstone, MO, and Lila Beaty of Kirksville, MO; five grandchildren, Kaelyn (Colten) Lang, Adyson (Nathan) Sullivan, Reese Sullivan, Jackson Montgomery, and Jersey Sullivan; 2 step-grandchildren, CJ Parks and Jack Mitchell; as well as one great grandchild, Paislee Long; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grand parents; step-son, Grant Blacksmith; brothers-in-law, Jeff Whittom and Bobby Beaty; and her special friend Marilyn Powell.

Lena received her education in Kirksville obtaining her nursing license in 1990 at the Kirksville Area Vocational school. She went to work at various nursing jobs throughout her career. She worked at the local hospitals for four years, KMCC for nine years and almost twenty years with Preferred Family Healthcare. Lena's career was cut short in 2015 due to a leg injury. She was always her patients biggest advocate and could always put a smile on someone's face.

Lena was a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge in Kirksville, MO, where she loved playing the slot machines and Friday night Queen of Hearts. You rarely caught her without a Mountain Dew anywhere you saw her.

She loved her family and enjoyed time with her grandchildren who she loved with all of her heart. Having her kids, grandchildren, and 1st great-grandchild all together one last time in November was her wish come true.

Lena has been cremated and a Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2025 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home with Vince Winn presiding. The family will receive friends before the service from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. in the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to her husband, Michael Blacksmith and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.