Myrtie I. (Chandler) Blackmer, 81, of North Grosvenordale, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2026. She was born to the late Chester and Helen (Law) Chandler. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Randolph Blackmer Jr.; her sons, Mark Blackmer (Lynn), Todd Blackmer (Monique), daughter, Lori Kelley (Tiger); siblings Carol Kudzal (Joseph), Robert Chandler (Debbie); seven grandchildren of whom she was immensely proud, Christopher, Daniel (Michaela), and Rachel Kelley, Gregory (Aimee) and Nicholas (Jessica) Swope, and Kendrick and Zachary (Olivia) Dexter; her great grandchildren, who she absolutely adored; as well as her nieces and nephews.

She married the love of her life when she was seventeen and lived her entire life at the family homestead. While raising her kids, she volunteered as a Cub Scout Den Mother and Boy Scout committee member for over 30 years, coached a Lassie League team she and Randy sponsored, and served as the Windham County Farm Bureau Secretary for many years. Myrtie was an avid UCONN Huskies basketball fan; if you wanted to talk to her, you better have called before the game started or waited until it was over, because even if they were ahead by 15 points, it was too close for her comfort.

Myrtie's go-to one liner was, "I never get to go anywhere." Truth be told, she enjoyed many trips with Randy to Switzerland, Germany, Belize, Holland, Hawaii, and numerous other locations, with their Farm Bureau friends, as well as cruises and all-inclusive vacations with her children and grandchildren. During one trip, and unbeknownst to her, Myrtie's family decided every night would be her birthday (even though her birthday was months away). At first, she didn't know why the waitstaff was singing Happy Birthday to her, but by the third night, she knew the drill; she enjoyed her nightly celebrations the rest of the trip, just as much as we enjoyed celebrating her.

Myrtie hosted Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Fourth of July gatherings for her family and extended family for many years. If you ever drove passed her house on the Fourth of July and saw a group of people sitting on her front lawn wearing red, white, and blue accessories, while waving the American flag at each passing car, rest assured, we didn't need to be evaluated, we were just playing along with one of her shenanigans.

Together with her husband and family, Myrtie kept very busy with their two businesses, Ag Service, Inc., and Blackmer Farm. She took immense pride in providing top notch products to her customers; if she spotted a minor blemish on the vegetables, or the flowers weren't perfect, they simply didn't make it to the stand. We sure hope Heaven's gardens were up to her standards when she arrived.

Honoring her wishes, there will be no public services. A private celebration of life will be held, at a later date. Share a memory at Smithandwalkerfh.com