Makaila Jean (Roberts) Blackburn, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister-in-law, left this earth to go to heaven with her heavenly Father, on August 18, 2024. She was born in Evansville to Howard and Sharon Roberts on August 29, 1959.

Makaila was a first-grade teacher at Highland Elementary School for 35 years. She loved her work and the many teachers that she worked with over the years. She was able to touch many lives over her long teaching career. She loved working at the Evansville Ford Center and the Victory Theater in her spare time. She and her husband, Wayne, worked as ushers, and Makaila was also a supervisor. Makalia was also a volunteer with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). Makaila followed her father’s footsteps and was described as a workaholic; she held many other jobs over her lifetime. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed traveling, especially her annual trip to Myrtle Beach with her family. But most of all, she loved her family and grandkids.

Makaila leaves behind her husband and best friend, P. Wayne Blackburn; daughter, Whitney Lynne (David) Russ; granddaughter, Faith Elizabeth Russ; grandsons, Ethan Russ and Axel Russ; She also leaves behind her 4 sisters-in-law, who say she is the 5th sister, and their spouses.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her paternal grandparents, Harland and Alice; maternal grandparents, Robert and Viola Farmer, and in-laws, Judy and Marvin Blackburn.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at the Denning Family Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Rev. David Schwambach will officiate with burial to follow at Sunset Cemetery in Evansville, 1800 St. Georges Rd. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the funeral home, and again on Thursday an hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to CASA. Online condolences may be left at denningfamilyfuneralhome.com