JB Blackshear, 82, of Greenville, TX passed away gently in his sleep Jan. 17, 2017 at Colonial Lodge Tender Care in Greenville from complications of Lewy Body Dementia. The son of JK and Ettie Orene Bishop Blackshear, he was born Sept. 15, 1934 in Leonard, TX. He married Weyma Jo Head Mar. 20, 1954 in Prairie Valley Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Campbell High School Class of 1953, and was a member of Highland Terrace Baptist Church. Throughout his life, he lived in west Texas, but the majority was spent in Hunt County Texas.
JB spent many years working as a Foreman at ESSCO Manufacturing in Greenville. He worked at Sabine Valley; and was the owner of JB’s Grocery & Station located on Moulton St. in the late 1970s. Always the worker, JB never actually retired. His various endeavors included house building, managing rental properties, the restoration and showing of antique cars, gardening, and in depth family genealogy. As a self-taught musician and singer, JB was a long time member of the WHOZAT Blue Grass Band, and the church choir. He played guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, fiddle, and harmonica, and enjoyed traveling the country to attend various musical festivals. As a woodworker, JB built furniture, musical instruments, and clocks. His family referred to JB as someone who was able to “do it all.”
JB was recently awarded the 45 year membership pin for the local chapter of the Fred Ende Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Lodge #87; and was a member of the Greenville Antique Car Club.
JB’s faith and family were central to his life. He fostered lifelong friendships with coworkers, church members, and neighbors. Following the legacy of his own parents, JB and Weyma were married for 62 years, and treasured the large family built around them. He is survived by his wife; twin sons and wives Ricky & Michelle Blackshear of Greenville; Randy & Teresa Blackshear of Greenville; grandchildren Chad Blackshear of Greenville, Robin Nammi & husband Jason of Louisiana, Keegan Blackshear of Tyler, TX; great-grandchildren Alyssa, Jaxon, Sadie, and Harper; sister Sue Holt & husband Clete of Celeste, TX, and sister Martha Ann Bishop Meador of Greenville; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
JB is preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law, Gwen Warren and brothers-in-law, Ray Sweat and Jeff Bryant and nephews, Brett Holt and Joel Tredway,
Pallbearers will be Randy Blackshear, Ricky Blackshear, Keegan Blackshear, Chad Blackshear, Rickie Chambers and Clete Holt.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hunt Regional Medical Center, the special staff at Colonial Lodge Tender Care in Greenville for the patience and love shown to JB in the last 10 months, and Kindred Hospice in Greenville for their caring support.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Friday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, 5100 I-30 East in Greenville. The funeral service will be at 2 pm Saturday in the chapel of Coker-Mathews with Dr. Marvin Mosley officiating. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. The family requests donations to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).