Emily Blackard

Emily was a greeter at Wal-Mart in Glen Carbon for over 20 years, where she knew many of the customers by their first names. She was friendly to everyone she met. Mrs. Blackard was a member of the Troy Bethel Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Doyle Blackard, whom she married on Aug. 24, 1936; her parents, Grant and Mary, nee McGill, Knight; a son, David Kent Blackard; 3 sisters, Evelyn Knight, Frances Henson, and Mary Jane Greer; a son-in-law, Michael Sears; and a daughter-in-law, Judy Blackard.

Surviving are 2 daughters, Sandra Roe of Collinsville, IL and Cheryl Sears of Troy, IL; a son, Donald Blackard of Collinsville, IL; 6 grandchildren, Susan Ellis, Scott (Tricia) Blackard, Angela Blackard, Monica Reed, J. Todd Wisniewski, and Patrick Sears; several great-grandchildren; as well as other relatives and friends.

Memorials in Emily’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Online condolence may be expressed at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from noon till 2:00 pm on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, 3412 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, IL.

Funeral: Services will he held on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the funeral home with Rev. Charles West officiating. Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory.