Kristi Jo Cook Blakemore, 36, of Bryantsville, died Friday, July 6, 2018 at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center following a three-week illness.
Born January 21, 1982 in Danville, she was the daughter of Debbie Jenkins Cook of Danville and Jerry R. Cook of Boyle County and the step-daughter of Darlene Rayens Cook of Boyle County. She was a 2000 graduate of Danville High School and 2004 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where she earned her teaching certificate specializing in Spanish. She continued her studies and earned her master’s degree in school counseling in 2012. She was a devoted teacher of Spanish at Bate Middle School, Danville, where she used innovative techniques such as moving all chairs and tables to the side and having students sit in bean bag chairs, on crates and inflated balls. This proved highly effective with this age group. She previously taught in the Garrard, Lincoln, Clark and Jessamine County school systems. Kristi was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, and her faith in God was very important to her. She shared Sunday School teaching duties and loved spending the time with children. Teaching was her passion, and the opening day of school was her favorite day of the year.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Timothy Allen Blakemore, her son, Joseph “JoJo” Allen Blakemore; her brother, David Randell (Leslie) Cook, Brodhead; her father and mother in-law, Ronnie and Luvina Blakemore, Winchester; brother-in-law, Andy (Nikki) Blakemore, Winchester; aunts, Barbara Jenkins (Woody) Randolph and Peggi Cook (Bill) Fillingim, both of Lincoln County and Carolyn Cook (John) Ellis of Boyle County and many other relatives and friends. . She was predeceased by her grandparents, the late Earl and Ines Owens Jenkins and the late Richard and Ruth Gordon Cook.

The funeral service for Kristi will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at Calvary Baptist Church, Danville. The Rev. Brent Rowe and the Rev. Jonathan Grizzell will officiate. Active pallbearers will be Anthony Blakemore, Ronnie Blakemore, David Cook, Josh Sallee, Dr. Shane Randolph and Steve Rayens. Honorary pallbearers will be Jarrett Blakemore, Virgil and Sue Faulkner, Leslie Cook, Jennifer Smith, Kim Dillard, Peggi Fillingim, Carolyn Ellis, Brenda and Jeff McKinney and all of Kristi’s fellow teachers. Visitation will be after 5 p.m., Tuesday at Calvary Baptist Church, Danville. Memorial donations are suggested to the Kristi Cook Blakemore Scholarship Fund and may be mailed to Bate Middle School, Attn: Kristi Cook Blakemore Scholarship Fund, 460 Stanford Ave., Danville, KY 40422. ​