Kristine Ann Blakemore, born on November 19, 1944, in St.Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, in The Villages, Florida. She was preceded in death by her father, James Kirk; her mother, Jane (Carnie) Kirk, and her brother, James Kirk. She was a beloved daughter, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend. Kris’s life was a testament to unwavering love, dedication, family, friendship, and hard work.
A proud graduate of Lindbergh High School, Kris carried her school’s spirit throughout her life, ultimately becoming an honored member of its alumni association; she even has a School Spirit Scholarship in her name, started by her family in 2020. Her commitment to her alma mater reflected her pride in her roots, her deep connection to her community, and her love for St. Louis.
Kris started and ran a successful auto parts business with her then-husband, Gary Blakemore, for more than two decades. After the business was sold, she worked for Barstool Gallery before becoming the manager of the Sakura Gardens condominium complex, where she eventually retired. Her next adventure took her to The Villages, Florida, where she made incredible new friends and found great joy in going to the pool, playing cards, and joining various clubs. Throughout all of her endeavors, Kris was always energetic, warm, and outgoing; her presence will definitely be missed. Her life was grounded by the principles: do the right thing, work hard, bring people together, and have fun.
Yet, it was her family that formed the core of Kris’s joyful existence. Known for her loving and caring nature, she embraced the role of mother with unparalleled devotion, raising two wonderful sons, Lee Blakemore (Corinne, South Bend, Indiana) and Doug Blakemore (Stacey, Birmingham, Alabama). To her sons, she was a guiding light, and a source of comfort, encouragement, and boundless support. Additionally, she was a grandmother to 5 cherished grandchildren (Réka, Eden, Maddie, Walt, and Jack) for whom Kris’s love knew no bounds. Her grandkids were her pride and joy, and she would have done anything to make them smile. She was generous with her love, becoming “Grandma” to many other children in her community, regardless of blood relation. She was also known as “Aunt Kris” to many furry friends. Kris warmly welcomed her daughters-in-law, Corinne and Stacey, into the family and was close to her nieces, Kerry and Kristin. Over the course of her life, she consistently built important and meaningful relationships that enriched her life. Her family was her greatest treasure, and everyone was “family”.
Those fortunate enough to witness her warmth saw a woman who embodied kindness and generosity, who continuously put the needs of others before her own. Kris’s heart was big enough to embrace friends and family alike, reflecting a life rich in love and compassion.
Though she will be deeply missed, Kristine Ann Blakemore’s legacy of love, strength, and selflessness will live on in the hearts of her sons, daughters-in-law, nieces, grandchildren, and all who knew her. Her story is one of a remarkable woman who balanced the demands of work with the tenderness of family, leaving an indelible mark on those fortunate enough to cross her path.
There will be a celebration of life on June 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Carriage House at Grant’s Farm, 7385 Grant Road, St. Louis, MO 63123. To RSVP and find more details, visit this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ERPerpweW/
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to either Lindbergh Highschool Scholarship Fund https://bit.ly/LSFScholarshipDonations or Shriner’s Hospital https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/campaign/shriners-hospitals-for-children r/c119312
Thank you for all the love and support.
The Blakemore Family