Faye Wester Blanton

Faye Wester Blanton, age 76, passed away unexpectedly on November 8, 2023, in Tallahassee, Florida. Faye was born on November 9, 1946, in Tallahassee, Florida to Daniel Dexter and Wilma Davis Wester. Soon after, the family moved to Chattahoochee, Florida where she spent the majority of her childhood. She attended Chattahoochee High School where she participated in student government, marching band, school newspaper and drama club. After high school, she attended Chipola Junior College in Marianna, FL. She then lived in Atlanta for a short time before moving to Jacksonville to attend Jones Business College. She graduated in 1967 and eventually moved back to Tallahassee, FL to settle down. She had three children, Wade, Doug and Laurel, and worked tirelessly to maintain a balance in work and home life. She proved over and over again that it was possible to be a wonderful and involved mother while also having a successful career. In 1991, she married Edwin F. Blanton and together, they built a life they loved. Faye began her 38-year career with the Florida Legislature in 1970 when she went to work for Senator Welborn Daniel. In 1974 she began working in the Senate Secretary’s office as Assistant to the Secretary until 1984 when she became Assistant Secretary of the Senate under Secretary Joe Brown. She served in this role until she was elected Secretary of the Senate in 1996 making her the first woman elected to that office for a full two-year term. She was subsequently unanimously reelected each term until her retirement in 2008. Through her deep knowledge and experience with the legislative process, she was able to be a leader through an era of technological changes and increased workload. She played a huge role in keeping the Senate process running smoothly through the complexity of these changes. Faye also played an important role on staff of the 1977 – 1978 Florida Constitution Revision Commission and served as Secretary and Parliamentarian of the 1997 – 1998 Florida Constitution Revision Commission. She was later called out of retirement to serve as Secretary of the 2017 – 2018 Constitution Revision Commission which gave her the honor to have served on all three of its kind in Florida history. Throughout her career, Faye also participated in many public service activities. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Legislative Research Center and Museum, lectured on the legislative process, and led many mock legislative sessions for civic, student, international and private groups. She also served as an advisor and counselor for Girls State, Boys State, the YMCA Youth Legislative and the Silver-Haired Legislature introducing thousands of Florida residents to the legislative process. Throughout the years of her service to the Senate, Faye consistently earned the admiration and respect from her colleagues and staff for her professionalism, kindness, compassion and graciousness. She bittersweetly closed that chapter in 2008 to enjoy her retirement and to spend time with her family. After retirement, Faye tapped into her artistic talents and began taking painting classes and creating beautiful artwork. She also embraced another passion of hers, gardening, and completed the Master Gardner Program through the UF/IFAS Extension. She and Ed both adored the outdoors through yard work, gardening, birdwatching, hiking, golf and many other activities. She loved wildlife and enjoyed any opportunity to observe it. She enjoyed creating a habitat for birds in her yard and looked forward to seeing them throughout the year. Faye and Ed also loved to travel and one of their favorite places to visit was Montana, where Faye’s brother had a home. The highlight of her retirement though, was having the freedom and time to spend with her family, particularly her grandchildren. They were truly the light of her life, and she enjoyed doting on them and participating in their lives. In the years before her death, Faye faced a decline in her memory. In spite of this, her spark and sense of humor never left her and the love she had for her family never faded. She will be remembered for her infectious laugh and unconditional love and devotion. She asked about her mother regularly and, especially in the last year, expressed her intense need to find and see her. It is comforting to know that she has been reunited with her husband and other loved ones that went before her and that she is finally back in the arms of her precious mother. Faye was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin F. Blanton; her parents, Daniel and Wilma Wester; and her brothers, Douglas Wester and Dexter Wester. Faye has touched the lives of many and will be missed beyond words by those that love her. She leaves behind her children Wade (Melinda) McDaniel, Doug McDaniel (Christy) and Laurel (Ken) Rigg; her stepsons Garrett (Amy) Blanton and Travis (Greer) Blanton; her grandchildren Davis, Taylor, Kensley, Ellie, Garrett Jr., Megan, Kai and Silas; her brother Gerald (Sharon) Wester and niece Elizabeth Wester; and many other friends and family. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 30, 2023, at 11:00 am at Thomasville Road Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Francis Wildlife Association or the Leon County Humane Society.

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Faye Wester Blanton

November 9, 1946 - November 8, 2023