DEDHAM – Christine Blackmer died peacefully April 12, 2008, after a brief illness. She was born July 4, 1911, the fourth daughter of Caleb and Lulu Bates of Haverhill, Mass. She graduated from Malden High School in 1928 and did clerical work until she married Roger E. Blackmer in 1932. They moved to Dedham, where she resided until moving to Brewer in 2000. She held numerous jobs, including being town clerk of Dedham, spanning a 20-year period, retiring in 1978. She was also an office worker for McGary Optical Co., for 20 years. She traveled extensively internationally and within the United States from 1965 to 2000. The last several years her activities included honorary and oldest member of the Scrappers and Stampers, Red Hat Society and oldest member of the Penobscot Mineral Lapidary Club. Other activities included reading, sailing, playing scrabble, knitting and being with family and playing with the grandchildren. Christine was an avid walker and she, along with four generations of her family, participated in the Walter Hunt 3K Road Race on her 95th and 96th birthday. Both years she came in third for the 70 and older age group. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Joyce and Albert Miller of Bradley, Nancy Armstrong of Dallas, Judith and Paul Todd of Greenville, Ind., and Phyllis and Jerry Bishop of Dedham; son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Sandra Blackmer of Dedham; special niece, Anita Zayas of San Juan, Puerto Rico; 22 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Roger E. Blackmer; grandson, Clay F. Miller; son-in-law, Clarence J. Armstrong; and her three sisters, Velma, Eleanor and Dorothy. A summer memorial service will be announced at a later date. Please send any correspondence to her daughter, Phyllis Bishop, P.O. Box 1160, Holden, ME 04429.