Garry Wayne Blackwell

Garry Wayne Blackwell, 83, of Forney, Texas passed away on July 24, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was born on February 21, 1943, in Sherman, Texas. He was the oldest son of Willard Malvin Blackwell and Margret Jane Blackwell. He had one brother, Donald Lynn Blackwell.

Garry Wayne Blackwell graduated from Denton High School and earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a focus in Insurance and a Master’s in Business Administration from North Texas State University. After college, he was a member of the United States Army Reserves where he served until honorably discharged.

Garry Wayne Blackwell was alone in the lobby of the girls’ dormitory, McConnell Hall, at North Texas State University in the latter part of November of 1963. He had been stood up on a blind date, but that disappointment immediately passed when he first laid eyes on Lila Jean Mason as she was changing the information on a bulletin board. By that Christmas Eve they were engaged and a few months later on May 28, 1964, they were wed at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Texas. Their marriage lasted sixty-two beautiful years, but their love will last forever. They had three sons, Garry Wayne Blackwell, Jr., Stephen Mason Blackwell, and Jeffrey Malvin Blackwell.

Garry Wayne Blackwell had a very successful business career in the insurance industry where he worked primarily for the Gulf Insurance Company and Ward THG. He held various positions from an entry level clerical worker all the way up to Chief Financial Officer. After retirement from this field, he and his wife purchased and successfully managed Blackwell’s Auto & Truck Sales in Blairsville, Georgia for over a decade.

Garry Wayne Blackwell was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church of Mesquite, Texas and later First United Methodist Church of Rockwall, Texas.

Garry Wayne Blackwell had a life-long passion for baseball. He shared his love of the Texas Rangers with his wife, and they spent many an evening watching the boys of summer. He coached his sons in both baseball and soccer. He was an excellent bowler, enjoyed golf and even dabbled in country and western dancing. His passion for investing was only overshadowed by his love of Tex-Mex food and Bluebell ice cream. He even sang and played the cornet.

Remaining to cherish Garry Wayne Blackwell’s memory are his wife, Lila Jean Blackwell, sons, Garry Wayne, Jr., Stephen Mason Blackwell, Jeffrey Malvin Blackwell, daughters-in-law, Jillyn Blackwell, Alison Paige Blackwell and Caryn Alyssa Blackwell, grandchildren, Reagan Hope Cohrt, Reeves Marin Davis, Jessica Grace Blackwell, Thatcher Knox Blackwell, and Oakley Emerson Blackwell.

Preceding Garry Wayne Blackwell in death are his parents, Willard Malvin Blackwell and Margret Jane Blackwell, brother, Donald Lynn Blackwell, and his in-laws, James Rutledge Mason and Dora Frances Mason.

Garry Wayne Blackwell’s celebration of life will be held at the Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home in Mesquite, Texas at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026. A reception will be held the same day at Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.