Funeral services for Mary Vee Blackert, 64, of Everett, Washington and formerly of Spirit Lake, will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, May 2, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake.  Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Spirit Lake.  Visitation for Mrs. Blackert will be held Friday from 4:00-6:00pm at Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Mary died April 16 in Everett.
           
Mary was born May 14, 1944 at the Florence Crittenton Home in Sioux City, Iowa.  Two weeks later she was adopted by Ed and Lorene Blackert of Spirit Lake.  She had a wonderful life with her family: her parents;  brother, Terry and sister, Marla Holt (John); nephews, Karl and Tyler, and niece, Laura Swanson (Tim).
           
Mary attended college and became a lab /x-ray technician and then returned to college to become a registered nurse, practicing in both in Iowa and Washington states. She quit nursing in 2005 because of kidney failure.  Miraculously, her sister, Marla, was a match and gave her a kidney on January 16, 2007.  By January 2008, she had major surgery for cancer.  She was fortunate in life to have enjoyed her work and had many friends.
           
She enjoyed golf, hunting, and fishing.  She was proud to be involved in Iowa farm life working with her parents.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Terry.

Turner Funeral Home of Spirit Lake in charge of arrangements.