JOHN EARL BLACKWELL, JR., 52, was born in Ranger,
TX on May 22, 1924 and died on Sept. 22, 1976 in Dallas.
He was the son of Bertha Leola McGlothin and John Earl
Blackwell. He was in the Ranger High School Class of
1942 and was married in 1942 to Polly Seymour (RHS-1941)
at Ranger, TX. They had two daughters, Melinda Sue
Polston & Melissa Jane Spikes, both of Midland and
both were born in Ranger.
He entered the U.S. Navy in March 1943 & was discharged
in 1945 & he attended SMU in the early 1950's. The family
lived in Ranger until 1949 and then in Crane until 1954
and then, Dallas.
He was preceded in death by a brother, J.T. Blackwell
(RHS-1944). Another brother, Walter Blackwell (RHS-1960)
resides in Carizzo Springs, TX, and three sisters, Luella
Blackwell Weaver (RHS-1945), Donna Blackwell Bell (RHS-
1956) of Rankin, TX, & Sissy Blackwell Miller (RHS-1963)
of Gainesville, TX. There are 2 granddaughters, 1 grandson,
3 great-granddaughters and three great-grandsons as a result
of the Blackwell/Seymour marriage. Years after Earl's death,
Polly married George W. Adkins (RHS-1941) in the late 1990's
and they live in Emerald Bay, Bullard, TX.
DAUGHTER: MELINDA SUE BLACKWELL POLSON,
69, of Midland passed away Nov. 24, 2012.
She was born Aug. 13, 1943 in Ranger, TX to John Earl and
Polly Blackwell. Sue moved to Midland in 1973 & worked
as a secretary. She was a member of the First Baptist
Church of Midland and was involved in the Permian Basin
Center for Battered Women & their Children, American
Cancer Society Relay For Life, was an American Cancer
Society Round-up Honoree. At the time of her death,
Sue was survived by her daughter, Julie Stephens
McBride; granddaughters, Lindy and Krystin McBride;
grandsons, Seth and Luke McBride.