Kleta Blake Northup

Kleta Blake Northup, 97, of Albuquerque, passed away on Tuesday, October 21, 2014. She was born on April 15, 1917 in Enid, OK to Byron Sterling and Mary Gertrude (Wofford) Blake. She was preceded in death by her four sisters: Lola, Ruth, Marianne and Joan (who were all members of Eastern Star) and her little brother, Byron "Toddy". She was a lifelong artist and started her formal studies at age 13 doing figure drawings under Marshall Lakey. She also studied figure anatomy and took private lessons at Phillips University. She attended Oklahoma A&M College where she was student assistant teaching freehand drawing for three years where she received her Bachelors of Art degree with a double major of portrait and anatomy art and French minor and an education certification to teach art in grades 1-12. She was offered a one year scholarship to Lindenwood College her freshman year and then a four year scholarship to Cleveland Art Institute. She married John Richard Northup in 1938. She continued her studies attending University of Oklahoma and studied for one year towards a Master's Degree in Fine Art. While attending Oklahoma A&M College (OSU), she was included in a book published by Bridgeman Publishers of the "199 Best Figure Drawings in the United States". She studied under Mitsuno Reedy and has exhibited in several galleries and has won bronze medals in these exhibitions. Also she studied under Doel Reid presently of Taos, NM. Kleta belonged to several art leagues, including the Southern States Art League - artists born or residing in the South. She was proficient in many mediums and created beautiful figure and portrait drawings, paintings, aquatints, oils, pastels and watercolors. She also painted many significant landscapes. Kleta was the featured artist at the La Vida Llena Art Gallery (lifecare retirement community) where she happily resided for over 20 years. Kleta is survived by her daughters: Dr. Donna Jordan and husband Dr. Marion Jordan of Albuquerque and Anita Hejtmanek and husband Edward of Fayetteville, AR; her grandchildren: Blake Jordan and wife Dr. Ann Morey of Albuquerque, Dagen Ames and Darcy (Ames) Harris and husband Nick and 7 great-grandchildren: Georgia, Isabelle, Glenda, Oliver, Marley Mae, Rowan and Delilah. She was loved by all that knew her! Celebration of Life services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. NE, Albuquerque. Interment will take place Monday, November 3, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. CDT at the Fort Sill Post Military Cemetery at Lawton, OK. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Full Life Foundation of La Vida Llena; 10501 Lagrima De Oro, Albuquerque, NM 87111. FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400