Mary Blackburn Deans

Mary Blackburn Deans, age 83, of Venice, Florida, passed away on January 31, 2008. She was born in Osprey, Florida on July 28, 1924. She graduated from the Old Sarasota High School in 1942 and worked as a telephone operator for many years in Sarasota. She was also a homemaker. She and her husband of 62 years, Stephen T. Deans, Sr. owned & operated Deans Produce on Albee Farm Road in Venice over the past 25 years. She was a longtime member and Sunday school class teacher at the First Baptist Church of Venice. She was also the current treasurer of Fidelas Sunday School Class. Married to Stephen T. Deans, Sr. on September 3, 1945, together they raised six children. Linda M. Schaper, Pat A. Hill, Mary D. Young, Stephen T. Deans, Jr., Walter C. Deans and James T. Deans all of Venice and 16 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her nephews, David W. Blackburn and John K. Blackburn of North Carolina and niece, Elaine B. Smith of Monroe, Georgia with many grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter D. & Eulalee G. Blackburn and brothers, John Henry Blackburn and William D. Blackburn. Mary, together with her husband, created a very long loving legacy-one that many have been touched by over her 83 years.