Cinda Blakeney

Cinda Diane Blakeney (nee Dennis) age 82, passed away on 11/12/2024. She is now with her parents, Richard & Esther Dennis, her brother Dal and her cousin (more like a brother) Rod. Cindy was born September 6, 1942 in Lima, Ohio. She moved with her family to Long Beach, CA in 1945 and attended John Muir elementary, Stephens Junior High and Millikan High schools. She graduated in 1960. She briefly went to Long Beach City College where she met and married Rick Blakeney in 1962. They lived in Killeen, TX during his military service and moved back to Long Beach in 1963. Shortly thereafter they moved to a new home in Mission Viejo until their divorce in 1970.

During grammar school she was in Tap Dance Revues at the Pomona Fair for 3 years. Her mom made all of her beautiful costumes. During her high school years, she did Tea Room Modeling, was “Miss Pittsburgh Paints” in a modeling contest at Stonewood Shopping Center, was in a TV commercial for a car dealership and was a demo model at a car show.

Cindy worked for North American Aviation in Downey from 1960-62. When she returned from Texas she again went to work for North American which became Rockwell Int’l then Boeing. She retired in 1998 after 38 years of service. During that time as a Software Systems Advisor she traveled extensively doing training and proposal support. Her most memorable stints were to Cocoa Beach, FL where she attended 2 launches of the Shuttle spacecraft and to Houston, TX where she was allowed to be in the Mission Control room while the Shuttle was in orbit. Along with the hard work were also many happy memories with her co-worker and travel companion Sandy Cotcher who became her lifelong best friend and sister. They were “joined at the hip” and “the dynamic duo” many co-workers would say. They were definitely sisters in their hearts but without the blood line connection. Cindy traveled a lot with her work assignments, so most of her vacations were spent enjoying her home and local day trips. She did go to Europe for a month and traveled through 9 countries, many trips to Mexico (Alcapulco, Playa Blanca, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey, Guadalajara), the Bahamas and Hawaii. Many funny stories resulted from these adventures. She also loved skiing in Mammoth and Vail, Tole painting, going to craft shows and volunteering at the animal shelter. A lifelong fan of the Lakers, especially the Kobe Bryant years. She could only afford to attend a few games and always lost her voice cheering for them, but rarely missed a TV game and cheered so loud her neighbors could hear.

Since retirement she has enjoyed family and friends and her furry children. Her love of animals was beyond normal. She would cry whenever she heard of any animal being mis-treated and if she could have she would have had 50 cats and dogs at her home. To say her fur kids were treated like royalty is an understatement! First came Tigger and Ashley (Sandy’s daughter, Teri named Ashley), next came a brief stay of Sally Ann, a cream/chocolate Himalayan spitfire to other cats, but very sweet to humans. This was her folk’s cat that she took in when they passed away. Next came Kiki, Kobe (named for Kobe Bryant), Katy Lyn, Joey, Scooter and Daisy May who all have crossed over the rainbow bridge. She missed every one of them dearly. Now all 9 are with their mom again and are jumping for joy. They are all resting at Sea Breeze Pet Cemetery.

Cindy leaves PollyAna, Cheeto and Smokey to the loving hands of her dear friends. She loved all her fur kids and extended that love to volunteering (since 2010) and fostering kittens for the animal shelter in Seal Beach. It was very hard for her to let the foster kittens go when they were ready for adoption but loved giving them the home they deserved in their infant months.

She is survivied by: Cousin’s wife Marion (Cookie) Gross, Randy, Shannon and Jacob Gross (like a nephew, wife and son), Louise (sister-in-law), Dean and Peggy Dennis (Brother and sister-in-law). Sandy and Jim Cotcher (lifelong ‘sister’ and husband) and many other close friends.