Alpha G. Blackburn

Alpha G. Blackburn (nee: New), 88 years of age, and a resident of Amherst, passed away  Saturday, September 2, 2023 following a full and meaningful life.

She was born January 17, 1935 in McCreary County, Kentucky. Amherst has been her home for the last seventy-two years.

Alpha was employed as a machine operator at Corona Clipper in California.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  Alpha was raised in Delta, Kentucky on a farm and loved working the horses in the field.  She was from a family of twelve and loved the time she spent with her family and friends.

Survivors include her husband of seventeen years, Everett Ryan; her children, Kenneth R. Neely (Sue) of Henrietta Township and Wanda K. Strader (Rickey) of Amherst; nine grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren; her siblings, Glena Morrow (Billy) of Elyria, Alene New of Tennessee and Roberta Burton of Indiana.   

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Hollon Neely, and her sons, James W. Neely in 2017 and Jerry D. Neely in 2012; three brothers and five sisters and her parents, Restus and Dora New.

Friends may call Wednesday, September 6, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at the Hempel Funeral Home, Amherst. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, South Amherst.

For those unable to attend please visit the funeral home's website to share a memory and sign the guest register, www.hempelfuneralhome.com.

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