Kimie Lovejoy Blackhurst, 70, of South Charleston passed away Saturday, August 12, 2023, at CAMC Memorial Hospital.
Kimie was a 1970 graduate of Duval High School and a 1975 graduate of West Virginia State University. She also attended Marshall University. Kimie retired from CAMC Memorial Hospital as the manager of the Automated Procedures (AP) laboratory.
Kimie was born on August 25, 1952 in Saitama, Japan to Sadako Ito Lovejoy and SFC Harry K. Lovejoy. She was a world traveler from an early age as an Army brat with her dad being stationed in Japan, Panama, Germany, and various stateside postings. As a child she was fluent in Japanese and Spanish before English. She became an Army wife when she married 2LT Gary A. Blackhurst in December, 1975. They went on to postings in Oklahoma and Germany and visited many European cities and sites. She made close friends wherever she lived and worked both here and abroad.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Sadako Ito Lovejoy; sister, Dr. Susann Lovejoy-Compton, M.D.; brother-in-law, John McCallister; and father-in-law, Arthur A. Blackhurst.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 48 years: Gary A. Blackhurst; daughters: Heather Blackhurst, Laura Blackhurst, and Lauriana Blackhurst; grandchildren: Weston Whitlock and Shaelynn Blackhurst; sisters: Karen Snyder, Stokesdale, SC and Mary (David) Gainer, Columbus, OH; mother-in-law: Maryanne Danner, Tornado, WV; brothers-in-law: Greg Compton, Myrtle Beach, SC and William Blackhurst, Simpsonville, SC; sisters-in-law: Terrie Gilbert, South Charleston, WV and Deborah (Doug) Corbett, St. Augustine, FL; nieces, Dr. Stephanie (Justin) Howerter, D.O., Stokesdale, SC; Kelsey McCallister, New York, NY; Bethany (Jason) Weaver, Killeen, TX; Harley Compton, Myrtle Beach, SC and Ashley (Will) Samuel, Cross Lanes, WV.
Friends and family will gather from 6-8 pm, Friday, August 18, 2023, at the funeral home.
Service will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, WV with Chaplain Bruce Reed officiating.