Malcena Blake, 96, of McCoy Road, Greeneville, died Friday morning at her home.

Mrs. Blake was a homemaker.

Her family provided the following statement:

"Mrs. Blake was known for her love of books and tried to learn something new every day.

"She often said education was a key to happiness and success, and encouraged all her children and grandchildren to do well in school.

"She was an inspired storyteller and would hold her grandchildren spellbound for hours with stories of life in the early 1900s in Greene County.

"Her creative and artistic talents were apparent in her beautiful quilts, crocheted rugs, knitted scarves, hats, and quilted place mats, which she gave to family and friends.

"She was a member of the Nolachuckey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, being a descendant of Frederick Cutshall.

"Her health prevented her from going to church in her later years, but her unwavering faith in God made her an inspiration to those who knew her.

"She greatly appreciated all the many thousands of books she checked out and read from the Greeneville-Greene County Library."

Survivors include: her sons and daughter-in-law: Randy Blake, and Kenneth and Marie Blake; her daughters and son-in-law: Dixie Blake and Madge and Vance Walker; seven grandsons: Jeff Blake and wife, Terri, Duane Blake, Lionel Blake, Van Walker and wife, Margaret, Tommy Walker, Fred Blake, and Chris Blake and wife, Melissa; four granddaughters: Jamie Jones and husband, John, Melissa Wise and husband, Eric, Amanda Blake Foulks and husband, Greg, and Christy Crane and husband, Jason; 13 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Mary Frank Harmon and husband, Buddy, Lula Mae Harris, and Marie Brown; two sisters-in-law: Elizabeth Dixon and Vera Dixon; and a brother-in-law: J.B. Renner.

She was a daughter of the late Elbert and Nora Dixon and was preceded in death by her husband: Tom Blake; two sisters: Una Dixon and Irene Renner; and four brothers: Porter, General, Major, and Buck Dixon.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home, preceding the 8 p.m. service in the funeral home chapel.

The Rev. David Reece will officiate with the eulogy given by her grandson the Rev. Jeff Blake.

Interment will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Greystone Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

It is requested that family and friends meet at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. Monday to go in procession to the committal service.

Memorials may be made to the Greeneville-Greene County Library, 210 N. Main Street, Greeneville, TN 37745.

Online condolences may be sent to the Blake family at http://www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com .