John Carl Blaylock

John Carl Blaylock Sr. John Carl Blaylock Sr., 62, passed away on April 20, 2011 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina after a long and brave fight against cancer. Born November 16, 1948, “Johnny” was the oldest child of Carl Buster Blaylock and Neville Mullens. Maternal grandparents were Rose and Kelly Mullens and paternal grandparents were Ethel and Larry Blaylock. John was a lifelong resident of West Virginia and had lived in Mercer County for the last 19 years. He is predeceased by his parents, grandparents and a sister, Shirley Minier of Michigan. Precious dogs Boomer (a Sheltie) and Princess (a Collie) will also be waiting for Johnny in Heaven. Johnny is survived by his loving and dedicated wife Louise Beverly Blaylock of Pisgah Road, Princeton who has been by his side for 25 years. Other survivors include a son, John Carl “J.C.” Blaylock Jr., and a daughter, Carla Akers both of Bluefield; a sister, Violet Sizemore of Morisville, Tennessee; three brothers: Chester (Linda), Billy “Hobo” (Cathy), and Michael all of Bluefield; three grandchildren: 10-year-old James Isaiah Rutledge and eight-year-old Autumn Raine Rutledge of Wytheville, Virginia and four year-old Jason Akers of Bluefield. Also, left behind are loyal and beloved dogs BJ (a Sheltie) and Blackjack (a Shih Tzu). Johnny was a member of Rich Creek Baptist Church. He worked at the Capels Coal Mine for 14 years and later worked at the Princeton Post Office and the Princeton Detention Center. He was a very patrioitic U. S. Army veteran and proudly served in the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion and the United Mine Workers of America. He loved spending time with family, friends, Vietnam veterans and his dogs. A special dog Boomer echoed his master’s patriotism by serving as a guard dog for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall when it passed through this area. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 22 from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell. The funeral service will be conducted by Reverend Ralph Calfee on Saturday, April 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Military Graveside Honors will be conducted by the West Virginia Honor Guard and the Mercer County Veterans’ Council. Friends will serve as pall bearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America or the Humane Society.