Dorothy Huskey Blanton

Dorothy Huskey Blanton, a longtime resident of Forest City passed away Thursday, January 19, 2017.

Dorothy Dean Huskey was born on February 13, 1926 to Edgar and Bertie Burnett Huskey in Avondale, NC. She married James Blanton of Forest City. She was predeceased by brothers Jack, Hyman, Maurice, Ray and Marcus Huskey and sister Faye Huskey Brooks.

"Dot" was an active member of the Forest City First Baptist Church for many years, where she was a faithful member of her Sunday School class and helped with hospitality for bereaved families. She was a volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels and a pink lady at the Rutherford Hospital. She was a patient and talented caregiver as daughter, daughter in law, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She had a passionate interest in health and nutrition, and discovered the joy of yogurt and the perils of cholesterol many years before the general public, and was one of the most senior members at the local fitness center. Her pursuit of nutritional knowledge led her to be an avid reader of Prevention Magazine and to visit Native American Chief Two Trees in the mountains of NC. Members of the Blanton household would find a mound of vitamin pills beside their plate at meals each day.

Dorothy was inquisitive, compassionate and fun loving. Coming from a family of music lovers, she began her first piano lessons at the Community College after her youngest child had left for college, and would sometimes serenade family members at the piano after dinner and display her high grades from her instructor. She had her photo in the local newspaper as a marcher for Habitat for Humanity, as a fashion model along with her daughter Elaine, and in an advertisement for the local gym. She sought out products with all natural ingredients and recycled before it became fashionable to do so. She enthusiastically helped with newborn grandchildren, ran shuttle service to piano lessons and youth groups, and dragged husband Jim along to the dance club. She taught everyone who knew her by example the value of kindness, faithfulness, joyfulness and unconditional love.

Her children are Brenda Blanton Leach of Travelers Rest, S.C., James Blanton Jr. of Port Jervis, NY and Elaine Blanton Trotter of Tampa, FL, sister Laura Ann Childs of Gastonia, three grandchildren and one great grandson.

The funeral service was held at The Padgett and King Chapel with Reverend J. Anthony Spencer officiating. Interment followed in the Cool Springs Cemetery.

The family respectfully request that memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 211 West Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043.

The Padgett and King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.