Obituary of Jimmy Dalton Blackwell

Jimmy Dalton Blackwell, 71, of Doniphan, Missouri, passed away Sunday, January 17, 2016, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri. Mr. Blackwell, son of Jim and Floy (Turner) Blackwell, was born February 9, 1944, in Doniphan. He had been in vehicle management and sales throughout his adult life. For many years he was owner-operator of Blackwell Chevrolet in Doniphan. Eventually, he partnered with Bob Netherland in the dealership and together they purchased the local Ford franchise, renaming it Current River Ford. After selling his portion of the business, he worked for Blackwell-Baldwin in Poplar Bluff for several years. For a period of time he owned Blackwell Motors in Doniphan along with his son, Joey, and friend, Bobby Baugh. After retirement, he worked for his brother, Harry, at the Cadillac dealership in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and up until his time of death, was managing the Dodge franchise for Harry in Dexter, Missouri. Darlene has often said working was his hobby. With his warm and friendly personality, Jimmy made many friends and developed loyal customers throughout his many years of employment. Mr. Blackwell was a member of Naylor First Christian Church and former member of the Doniphan Jaycees. He liked team-penning and was an avid golfer until his health deteriorated. Jimmy especially enjoyed attending and supporting the ballgames coached by his son, grandson and son-in-law. He also loved to ride his lawn mower and it has been said that Jimmy “solved all his problems while riding that mower”. Above all, Jimmy's greatest joy was being with his family whom he dearly loved. On August 25, 1962, he was married to Darlene Adams at the First Christian Church in Naylor and she survives. At the time, they were the first couple to be married in the new church. Also surviving are 3 children: Jimmy Dalton “Jimbo” (and Donna) Blackwell, Jr., of Eminence, Missouri, Jami Blackwell Brown (and her husband Rob) of Mountain View, Missouri, and Joey Blackwell of Doniphan; 7 grandchildren, Brett (and Maggie) Reed, Haily (and Logan) Boles, Darra (and Justin) French, Jaysa (and Kyle) Mickey, Bo Blackwell, Malarie Blackwell and Jackson Blackwell-Leroux; 3 great-grandchildren, Brilee Boles, Chase Boles and Peyton French; his mother, Floy Blackwell of Poplar Bluff; and 2 brothers, Harry (and Vivian) Blackwell of Naylor and Rob (and Vicki) Blackwell of Poplar Bluff. He was preceded in death by his father. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, January 20, 2016, from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will take place Thursday afternoon, January 21, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home chapel with Reverend John Harwell officiating. Burial will be in the Hunt-White Memorial Gardens in Doniphan. Memorials may be made to the Doniphan High School baseball program.