Obituary of Frances Durham Scruggs Blickensderfer

BLICKENSDERFER, Frances Durham Scruggs, passed away on June 3, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Sam DeLee Whitley, Sr., and Olin Robert Blickensderfer. Frances was born May 3, 1921, in High Point, North Carolina, to John Glen Scruggs and Viola Marguerite Johnston. She graduated from High Point College and taught high school chemistry and biology in North Carolina. Frances was a 25-year Garden Clubber, active in North Carolina, New Mexico, and Arizona, holding several positions at the state level. In the late Seventies, she wrote a weekly column in the Tucson Woman magazine and was awarded a State Public Relations Award for it. Frances received numerous awards in Design and Horticulture in various flower shows. Frances also was very active in The Nature Conservancy, serving two terms as State Land Trust Publicity Chairman for Arizona and two years as State Public Relations Chairman for the Southern District. Frances was given the National Lewis Award for Service. Frances was an active member in Tucson Needle Crafters and was proud to be a member of the DAR. Frances loved her family and was a very involved and loving grandmother. She is survived by two sons, Sam Whitley (Nancy), Winston-Salem, NC, and John Whitley (Diane) of Prescott, AZ; grandchildren, Charles A. Good (Jenna); children, Breanna, Sydney and Zachary; Sarah Elizabeth Ahmed (Syed); children, Umar and Aisha; Jessica Leigh Whitley Bartels (Benjamin); children, Kaleb and Kameryn; Annalisa Marie Whitley. At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel.