Katie Blanton

KATIE BLANTON

FOREST CITY-Katie Silver Blanton, 81, of Forest City, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Crowe's Funeral Chapel in Rutherfordton.

Born Dec. 11, 1935, in Buncombe County, N.C., to the late Esther McFalls Morrow, Katie was adopted at an early age by the late Wellington C. (Will) Silver and Morena Josephine Calloway Silver. She was raised by the Silver family in Old Fort, and graduated from Old Fort High School.

Katie spent the majority of her life working in the livermush industry of the NC foothills. She first worked in her husband's family business, Blanton's Livermush in Ellenboro. Later she would work for Mack's Livermush in Shelby. Katie worked tirelessly as a caretaker for her mother-in-law, Laura Canipe Blanton, during the latter years of Laura's life, going above and beyond to ensure Laura's wellbeing. Katie also was a longstanding and faithful member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church.

Katie's greatest love was her family. She was selflessly devoted to them and loved spending time with her husband, children, their spouses and her grandson. Her other passion in life was caring for animals. Nothing brought her greater joy than taking in strays (especially cats), and transforming them into pampered pets.

Katie is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Rupert (Bill) Blanton; her children and their spouses, Donna and Lee Matthews of Tifton, Georgia, and Neil and Annette Blanton of Oak Ridge, N.C.; and grandson, Blake Matthews of Tifton, Georgia.

Memorial donations may be made to Rutherford County Humane Society, PO Box 998, Rutherfordton, NC 28139.