Edith M Blackwell

Edith Marie McMillan Blackwell was born January 30, 1917 to Joseph Hubert McMillan and Annie Laura Brandstetter McMillan, on the family farm near Doole, Texas. She was a life-long Christian and a Baptist. She was a member of Seventh Street Baptist Church of Ballinger and her home is in Ballinger, Texas. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 5, 2014 at Robert Lee, Texas at the age of 97.

Edith helped rear her younger siblings after the loss of her mother. She loved to sing and was the choir director at her church as a young woman. She was a wing riveter at Kelly Field during World War II, remaining in San Antonio for a time after the war. She returned home to Melvin, Texas to help her father and stepmother run their laundry. It was there that she met Thomas Edward Blackwell, a ranch hand. After a three-month courtship, they married on August 6, 1949. They had three children. Edith was a homemaker while her children were small, and then began her career as a cook. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Joe Blackwell in 1973, and by her husband in 1982. Also preceding her in death were her parents and stepmother, ten brothers and one sister. She leaves to cherish her memory two sisters, Dorothy Benham, and Reta Faye Goodman and husband Neil, as well as three sisters-in-law. Also surviving are her two daughters, Alice Blackwell, and Annie Jones and husband Shannon, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Chris and Charla Blackwell and Cora; Amy and Jarred Barbour and Marcus; Emerson and Heather Herridge, Wyatt, Elliot and Sydney; Gregory and Shelby Herridge and Logan; Damien Herridge and Kiernan; John Bariou III, wife Jenny Tschirhart, Edison and Lincoln; Carissa and Matt Browning; and Tyler Jones.

The family would like to offer their sincere and heart-felt thanks to the staff at Robert Lee Care Center, and to Odyssey Hospice, for their loving kindness and care.

Visitation with family present will be from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday, March 7. Memorial service will be in Johnson’s Funeral Home chapel at 1 P.M. on Saturday, March 8, with burial to follow in Paint Rock Cemetery. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers, at Grannie’s request.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, or a charity of the giver’s choice.

Family and friends may sign the online register book at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com