Margaret E. Blaker

Services for Margaret E. Blaker, 82, Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Burial will be in Reno Cemetery in Leavenworth County.Mrs. Blaker died Sunday, April 17, 2005, at the Windsor of Lawrence.She was born Sept. 22, 1922, in Greeley, the daughter of Joseph Francis and Mary Gertrude Huss Hastert.Mrs. Blaker worked for Southwestern Bell for more than 35 years in Lawrence and Topeka and retired in 1983. She was a substitute switchboard operator for the Lawrence school district and worked in the gift shop at the Lawrence Holidome.She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Altar Society, Telephone Pioneers, AARP, Lawrence Widowed Group, American Legion Auxiliary and Autumn Club.She married Robert Anton Blaker on Aug. 13, 1940, in Lawrence. He died Dec. 17, 1988.Survivors include a son, Norman L. Blaker, Katy, Texas; a niece, Donna Kochanski, Ozawkie; two granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren.Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.The family suggests memorials to St. John’s School Endowment in Greeley, sent in care of the funeral home.Online condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com.