Jesse Blalock

Passed away peacefully Friday morning, October 13, 2017. He was born July 18, 1922 to Watson and Lillie Belle (Ward) Blalock in Harleton, TX. In WWII he served in the US Army in the European and Pacific theaters and received an honorable discharge as a staff sergeant. While stationed at Ft. Custer, MI he met Davada Elizabeth Schilling at a USO dance. They were married for 65 years before her death in 2011. He was also preceded in death by his twin sister, Dessie Fay Ragon Alexander (2012). Ray was an accountant his entire career before retiring from the Michigan Dept. of Ed. He was a Past Master of the Kalamazoo Masonic Anchor Lodge and a charter member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Portage, MI. Survivors are daughter Marcia Blalock of Houston, TX, son Randy (Karin) Blalock of Mattawan, MI, daughter Cheryl Blalock of New York, NY; granddaughters Jodi (Rob) Perry of Portage, NY and Tracy (Joe) Clifford of Kalamazoo, MI; and six great-grandchildren. Ray received loving care at Bickford of Portage, MI where he was a beloved member of the community who could be relied on for a good laugh and a joke. The family wants to recognize the extraordinary friendship of Mike Storbeck of the Stephen Ministries. Services will be held at 2:00pm Tuesday, October 17 at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 7028 Oakland Dr., Portage, MI 49024. Friends may meet the family Tuesday from 12:30-2:00 prior to the service at church. Private interment will be in Ft. Custer National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations to Hospice Care of Southwest MI would be appreciated. To view Ray's personalized guestbook please visit www.langelands.com.