Ella "Corinne" Corinne (Blackstone) Neeley

On April 16, 2020 we said goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother and friend, Ella Corinne Blackstone-Neeley.  She was born on September 15, 1918 to Hiram Percival (Percy) Blackstone and Mable Parker-Blackstone in Bend, Oregon.  She was raised on the Blackstone family homestead up Bear Creek in Crook County, along with her four siblings Stanley Blackstone, Lois Blackstone-Mitchell, Alice Blackstone-Long and Virginia (Jane) Blackstone-Lauener, all of whom proceeded her in death.

At age 101 Corinne's legacy lives on through many loved ones and fond memories.  She cherished her family and left behind four children; Doris Bolin-Rains of Lyons, Oregon, Neal (Elsie) Bolin, Gary (Arlene) Bolin both of Prineville, Oregon and Sharon Huggans of Salem, Oregon.  These children blessed her with numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, whom Corinne loved dearly.

Corinne's story has so many chapter one cannot mention them all: from daughter to wife, to mother and grandmother, a friend, a neighbor and volunteer, a Christian and Bible teacher, a student and an author, and even a Pioneer Queen and much more.  Raised on a ranch but ending up in the city, seeing and experiencing everything in between.  Some of her experiences say it all; horse and buggy to automobiles, lanterns to electricity, hand pumps to running water, out houses to indoor toilets, wood stoves and handwashing clothes to electric appliances, airplanes to a man on the moon, stage coach mail to email, telephones to internet and even lived through 19 presidents and several wars.  Collectively, these experiences spurred her to live life to the fullest.

The zest for life Corinne possessed was full of learning and doing.  She enjoyed croqueting, reading, crossword puzzles, painting, rock hunting, and writing her life story and poetry, she did ancestry before ancestry was cool or even easily accessed, and traveling was an adventure for her.  Through the years Corinne was passionate about learning; a bachelor's degree as a single mom, Bible College in her 50's, computer classes in her 70's and at 78ish took painting classes and many other studies in between.  She was special; however she always gave credit to God for her life, family, friends and neighbors.

Speaking of friends, Corinne rarely met a strange.  As her friend, she was faithful and loyal and wanted to be there for your every need.  When Conrinne gave up her drivers license at age 92 it was a tough decision, for she helped many people by giving them rides to doctors' appointments and to get groceries, etc. Giving of herself and her resources was one of her greatest gifts to family, friends and neighbors. She truly was an inspiration to all and her legacy lives on through us; and she will be greatly missed.

A reflection of Corinne's life reveals her great love for her Lord and Savior, who she served faithfully even to the end.  Corinne attended High County Fellowship in Brothers, Oregon, in the same high desert community she was raised in on the homestead.  But for the last five months she had resided at Sunflower Adult Forster Care here in Prineville, where she read the word and prayed continuously for others.  She would get up before the other residents, just so she could greet each resident as they got up with a good morning and a smile, so she could show to them the love of God, and that was her ministry to the very end!

However, on her last morning, she was the one who was greeted with a smile and the love of God! What a perfect ending to life on earth when you know Jesus.

There will be a memorial to be announced at a later date.

Whispering Pines Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  3168 NE 3rd Street - Prineville, Oregon  97754      541-416-9733

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.