Vivian Geraldine Blackman Sturges, daughter of the late John Ernest Zimmerman and Nora Ethel McGowan Zimmerman, was born on October 26, 1930, on County Line Road just outside of Bernie, Missouri and departed this life on April 10, 2025, at Winchester Nursing Center in Bernie, Missouri at the age of 94 years, 5 months 15 days.
Mrs. Sturges grew up in Bernie, Missouri and graduated from Bernie High School in 1948. She was raised on a farm and then married a farmer. She was a partner with her husband, being secretary, manager, banker, garden grower and canner, farmer. She did it all. She also decided to take up flying, with her son, Kent and Son-in-law, Ronnie, but she was the only one that had flown solo. She was a resident of Campbell and attended Campbell Church of Christ. After moving to Winchester’s in Bernie, she attended Bernie Church of Christ.
She was united in marriage to Denzil Louis Blackman in 1948. He preceded his wife in death in 1978. She later married Rollan Sturges, and he preceded his wife in death in 2000.
Other survivors include two sons, Keith Blackman & wife Elaine of Brookland, Arkansas and Tony Blackman of Belton, Texas; by two daughters, Karen Hartwick of Campbell, Missouri and Tammy Kincade & husband Joe of Big Stone Gap, Virginia; by ten grandchildren, Shannon Hartwick of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Monica Weidenbenner of Glennonville, Missouri, Brent Blackman of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Brian Blackman of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Bryce Blackman of Bogota, Colombia, Laura Beth Horn of Harrison, Arkansas, Weston Kincade of Cleveland, Ohio, Tiffany Kincade of Rome, Italy, Ashley VanGundy of Richland, Washington, and Allen Blackman of Syracuse, New York; by fourteen great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; also by other nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death other than by her parents, and her husbands, by one son, Kent Blackman, one daughter-in-law, Brenda Kay Adams Blackman; by one son-in-law, Ronald Dan Hartwick; by five brothers, Hershel Zimmerman, Melvin Zimmerman, Howard Zimmerman, Lloyd Zimmerman and Harold Zimmerman; by three sisters, Pearl Mickey, Dimple Miller and Marjorie Zimmerman in infancy.
Visitation will be at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. followed by funeral services officiated by Stan Dauck. Interment will follow in Malden Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie is assisting with all arrangements.
