Harold Eugene Blackburn

Harold Eugene Blackburn, lifelong Hallett area resident, passed away on Saturday, November 3, 2001 at the Cleveland Area Hospital at the age of seventy-two years, ten months and seventeen days.

Gene was born December 16, 1928 in Jennings, Oklahoma. He was the son of Edward David and Lena Estell Blackburn. Gene was raised in the Hallett area and attended school there, graduating from Hallett High School in 1946.

Upon his graduation, Gene traveled to Kansas where he assisted in the wheat harvest and then went on to Colorado to pick peaches. He returned to Oklahoma and accepted employment for a short while with the Rural Electric Cooperative (Indian Electric) in Cleveland. He then began driving a truck delivering Coca-Cola products in the Tulsa area.

In 1951, Gene enlisted into the service of his country, serving as a Corporal in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Upon his honorable discharge in 1953, Gene returned to the Hallett area and resumed his job with the Coca-Cola Company for a short time. On December 23, 1954, he married Mary Pauline Millard in Bentonville, Arkansas. The couple had five children, Roger, Frank, Bobby, James and Debra.

Just prior to his marriage to Pauline, Gene accepted employment with American Airlines in Tulsa. During his thirty years of employment, Gene worked as an aircraft mechanic and was a member of the Transport Workers Union, Local 514. He retired in 1983. Upon his retirement, Gene enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved being around people just talking and visiting but especially enjoyed the Annual Hallett Reunion. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Claremore, Oklahoma.

Gene is survived by his wife, Pauline of the home; four son, Frank and Sharon Blackburn, Mount Vernon, Missouri, Roger Blackburn of Louisiana, Bobby and Tina Blackburn of Sublette, Kansas, and James and Susie Blackburn of Hallett, Oklahoma; daughter, Debra and Keith Pleasant of Tulsa, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren; brother, David Blackburn of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sisters, Betty Carver of Owasso, Oklahoma and Bonnie Melton of Miami, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Billy Edward Blackburn.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, November 7, 2001 at the First Christian Church in Hallett, Oklahoma with Rev. Doyle Baker officiating. Burial will be at the Bethany Cemetery in Hallett under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

''Visit and online obituary and guestbook for Harold Eugene Blackburn at www.chapman-black.com.''