Dear Students, Alumni, Colleagues, and Friends,

We are sharing the email message with you that came from Dr. Gerald
Blakely this morning. Obviously this is a time of deep sadness for the
Division of Social Work. Yet, at the same time, we celebrate the
wonderful life of an extraordinary friend, colleague, teacher, and
social worker.

"I'm sad to tell you that Ellie died this morning.  I talked with her
and I know that she understood me early last evening.  But after she
received more pain medicine around 6:30 last night, I don't think she
understood anything else and died peacefully with no pain.

Very tentative plans will be to have a visitation at Hastings Funeral
Home here in Morgantown Saturday evening and a memorial service at the
First Presbyterian church here at 2:00 on Sunday.

I'm asking that in lieu of flowers gifts be made to the Dr. Eleanor
Harrell Blakely Student Loan Fund at the WVU Foundation, P.O. Box
1650,
Morgantown, WV  26507.

I'll get more details about things to you as I know them.

We both thank you again for all the love and support you've shown
during the past 15 months while she's been fighting this disease. 
She's
never been anything less than positive in spirit and I know that your
support helped her maintain that attitude.

Love - Jerry"

We will keep you posted on specifics of the visitation and memorial
service. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.


Ginny Majewski, MSW, PhD
Chairperson, Division of Social Work
West Virginia University
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
PO Box 6830
Morgantown, WV 26506
304-293-3501, ext. 3129