Memorial

Leslie Ann Blin, 82, of Marion died Saturday January 31, 2015 at Manor Care Health Services. Services at 1:00 PM on Saturday at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friend may call at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4 to 7 PM on Friday.

Surviving are her children: Michael Blin (Donna) of Marion; Patricia Blin Crawford (George) of Milton; and Bob Blin of Marion. She is also survived by three grandchildren: Chrystal Blin Jensen (Dane) of Sedalia, Missouri, Ashley Blin Stronck (Scott) of Bellevue, Nebraska and Andrew Blin of Cedar Rapids; three great grandchildren: Natalie Stronck and Matthew and Edith Jensen; her brother John Mathews of Princeton, Mo.; her sister Mary Streett of Bethany, MO.; sister-in-law Annie Mathews of Chillicothe, MO.; many nieces, nephews, and their spouses and children. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, a brother, Alvin James, a brother-in-law, Marvin Streett, and a sister-in-law, Janice Mathews.  

Leslie Ann Mathews was born August 1, 1932 in Bethany, MO. She was the oldest child of Alvin and ClaraBelle (Omans) Mathews. She was raised on a farm near Bethany and attended Bethany schools graduating from Bethany High School in 1950. Leslie and Robert Blin were united in marriage on September 16, 1951 in Bethany, Missouri. 

Robert and Leslie moved to Marion shortly after their marriage. Leslie worked at Collins Radio for a short time before becoming a full time stay-at- home mom.
Leslie loved nature. She enjoyed walks in the woods where she taught her children and grandchildren many things about finding beauty in nature. She was a volunteer naturalist at the Indian Creek Nature Center, served as Historian for the Cedar Valley Rock and Mineral Society, and was a member of the Audubon Society. 
She and Robert enjoyed square dancing and clog dancing and were members of the Cedar Rapids Squares, the Ce-Mar Cloggers, and the Clippity Cloggers. She also enjoyed gardening and camping. 

You could most often find Leslie assisting her son, Bob, and her husband, Robert, with their displays of antique engines and their sale booth at the Old Threshers Reunion.