Jessie Gulley

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Jessie Mae Blattel Gulley, 88, passed peacefully into eternal life Sunday, July 30, 2017, at Parkside Manor in Columbia with family by her side, bidding her farewell.

She was born Nov. 16, 1928, in Sturdivant, Missouri, to the Rev. Homer Campbell and Myrtle Effie Kinder Campbell. On Nov. 22, 1951, she and Fred William "Mick" Blattel were married in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Feb. 13, 1991. She married Ralph Gulley of Scott City on June 5, 1992. He also preceded her in death.

While Fred ran Blattel's Shell Service Station at the corner of Sprigg and Morgan Oak Streets in Cape Girardeau, "Mae" was a homemaker, and together, they raised five children, Jack Blattel (Meril) of Bonneau, South Carolina; George "Bobby" Blattel (Marilyn) of Marble Hill, Missouri; Mary Wulff of Columbia; Martha Glastetter (the late Tom) of Cape Girardeau; and Margaret "Maggie" Gilbert of Las Vegas.

In addition to being a great housekeeper and wonderful cook, she will be remembered for her feisty attitude and sense of humor.

Once the children were grown, she took in other young ones to babysit, worked as a waitress at Bakers Big Burger and managed a snack bar on the SEMO campus -- of course, not all at the same time!

She loved her music. Two of her favorite artists were Marty Robbins and Elvis. With her father being a General Baptist minister, she had a love for gospel music she shared with her children as well.

She is survived by all of her children; two brothers, Willard Campbell of Granite City, Illinois, and Raymond Campbell of Springfield, Illinois; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Olga and Charles Lance of Perryville, Missouri, Melvin Gulley of Cahokia, Illinois, and Delores "Kit" Stull of Fountainebleau in Cape Girardeau; 3 stepchildren, Diane Baugher of Cape Girardeau and Jo Ellen Whitworth and J.T. Gulley of Scott City; 10 grandchildren, Jeff and Kevin Blattel, Erica, Erin and Evan Enderle, Katie and Amy Wulff, Justin Glastetter and Sunny and Katie Gilbert; several great-grandchildren, stepgrandchildren and foster grandchildren who loved their Bea/Granny; and many nieces and nephews.

Her parents preceded her in death, along with brothers Gilbert, Homer Robert and Leamond "Buck" Campbell; a sister, Betty Ruth Talley; two husbands, Fred Blattel and Ralph Gulley; and a stepsister, Veda Harris.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Funeral service will follow at noon at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Fellowship and a meal will follow.

Memorial contributions can be made to the VFW in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.