William Shirley Blackman

Mr. William S. Blackman, 94, passed away December 17, 2015 at his home in Newnan, GA. He was born in Maplewood, Missouri on November 23, 1921 to the late William Hayes Blackman and Mary Elizabeth Blackman. His family moved to the Beaumont, TX area in 1928 where he lived in the surrounding area until 2006.

Mr. Blackman enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He served honorably in the South Pacific as a gunner aboard the Merchant Marine supply ship, the M. V. China, and the USS Matthew Thornton and USS Henry T. Rainey. Following his discharge in 1945 he married Marion Lucille Courts, also of Beaumont, raised a family, and worked as a machinist for several companies in Beaumont including Beaumont Iron Works, Schwab Machine, and Exelle. He retired from Exelle in 1983 and was a member of the Elks Lodge 82.

Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Marion Blackman of Newnan, GA; daughter Shirley Lukens and husband, Tom also of Newnan, GA; daughter Elizabeth Walters and husband, Jimmy of Evadale, TX; son Bob Lee Blackman and wife, Bonnie of Beaumont; brother, Richard Abby Blackman of Killeen; 5 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by two brothers, two sisters and an infant son.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, December 21, 2015 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont. Condolences may be expressed at www.forestlawn.com.