Born October 29, 1929 and present in heaven September 21, 2009, Joe Conley Blackman led an honorable life filled with love, adventure, and unprecedented dedication to his Center High School sweetheart and wife Mooneen Yvonne Winger.

If variety is the spice of life, then his was extremely spicy! His adventures started in the backwoods of East Texas. He was born in Tenaha, but moved often to places like Terrapin Neck, Carthage, Joaquin, and others. Even a dirt-floor farm house was home for him and his siblings.

Barefoot, and wearing his everyday hand-me-down overalls, fun for him and his brother R.B. was catching crawdads in the creek, hoping it would be enough for dinner. When the fish weren't biting, they would climb the railroad trestle, hang off the edge, and see who could last longer. The roaring train above them often decided who would be walking home wet. He made his own toys, such as pushing around a barrel ring with a flattened tin can nailed to a stick. He was a proficient stilt walker, and earned his Grapette money shooting marbles.

He was very close to his mother, and loved to watch her cook his favorite desserts like chocolate pie, sweet potato pie, and banana pudding. She often served him cornbread and milk, which he enjoyed all his life, and even this year.

He lived in a two-story frame house on Nacogdoches St. in Center, across from the Grammar School. He later attended Center High School where he met the love of his life, Mooneen Y. Winger. Music was one of the many loves they had, and both played in the band. She played bass clarinet, and he played baritone, sometimes trombone. They began a classic relationship, which evolved into a beautiful life-long symphony. On January 1, 1951 he joined the United States Air Force. After his return from basic training, they were married in Center on July 19, 1951. They were each other's best friend and love until she became present in heaven on April 28, 1999 after losing a hard fought battle to cancer. Our Dad lost half of himself that day.

After flight school, he flew in the B-29, B-36, and became a radio operator. He then joined the Strategic Air Command, and became a B-52 tail gunner. He served in both the Korean and Viet Nam Wars and did so with pride and thankfulness. He received the Air Force Longevity Service Award, Korean Service Medal, FEAF Air Medal, FEAF U. N. Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. During that time he was stationed in Kansas, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Florida, New York, and Georgia. TDY duty took him to many exotic places overseas.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, he went back to school and studied Heating & Air Conditioning. In 1975 he was employed by the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier, and did so for 20 years. He was the postman that always went above and beyond, making conversation with elderly patrons that rarely had visitors, or repairing anything that was broken. He simply cared about people in need. When Christmas would come he would get so many cookies, cakes, pies, and other goodies it would fill our dining room from the top of the table to covering the floor.

While stationed in Puerto Rico they made another addition to the family, their daughter, Susan Kay. She quickly became Daddy's little girl, whom he sang to, read to and taught her how to bowl and play softball and what to expect from a man with regard to opening a door or holding her chair at dinner. Then on June 16, 1961, the final and most precious son Scott Edward was born. He too was read to, sang to and participated in Track and Field, bowling, fishing (one of Dad's best fishing buddies) and then went on to learn to play trombone, just as his Dad had done before him. Since he was gone so much in the service we made it a point to always have a family day and special family vacations which included: a trip to Broadway to see Mame and Cabaret, a trip to Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands, Canada and so many more.

He was an extraordinary Dad, a devoted and faithful husband, and a man people easily grew to love. We will miss him, but we will always think of him with love in our hearts and thankfulness that God brought us all together to share in the special moments that make life worthwhile!

He was preceded in death by his wife Mooneen Y. Blackman, two sisters, Billie Jean Langham, and Alma Bottomley, two brothers, W.C. Blackmon, and R.B. Blackman, his mother Nancy Daniels, and parents-in-law Charles E. Winger and Mary Helen WInger.

He is survived by his son Scott Blackman and wife Linda of Ft Worth, his daughter Susan K. Reed and husband Randy of Sacul; three grandchildren, Jennifer West of Nacogdoches, R. Spring Wilson of Texas City, and Jacob West and wife Lauren of San Antonio; and five great-grandchildren, Joel Rhodes, Christopher Wilson, Sunnie Mooneen Morris, Cheyenne Morris, and Jadeanna Morris.

If you knew Joe C. Blackman, went to school or church with him, or perhaps you are family that has lost contact, or a veteran that would like to help celebrate his life, you are cordially invited to attend. Graveside services will be held at Oaklawn Memorial Park on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. Visit www.donate.americanheart.org or call (800) 242-8721, or The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd. Tyler, TX 75701, (800) 777-9860.

If you have any questions call Watson & Sons Funeral Home (936) 598-4331, Susan Reed (936) 558-8401, or Scott Blackman (817) 456-2019. We look forward to seeing you there!