Max L. Blackwell

Max L. Blackwell

image Max Lester Blackwell, 91, passed away Sunday, January 15, 2012, at Wellmont Hawkins County Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.

Mr. Blackwell was a member of First Baptist Church of Rogersville. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy, and was assigned to the Armed Guard Crew of Merchant Marine Vessel S.S. Port Royal.

As a child he lived briefly in North Carolina, New Jersey and Carter County, Tenn., and attended high school in Cranberry, N.C. He worked at the North American Rayon Corporation plant in Elizabethton, Tenn. He retired following 30 years of service from the Tennessee Valley Authority, where he worked at Johnsonville, Widows Creek and John Sevier Steam Power Plants.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George W. and Alpha Shelton Blackwell, and step-mother, Nelia Baird Blackwell; brothers, Fred, Rex, Hal, Roy and Harry Blackwell; sister, Faye Blackwell; half sisters, Gayle Payne, Georgia Cox and June Blackwell; and step-sister, Ira Jean Levine.

Survivors include his wife, Cleo Morrell Blackwell, of the home; a daughter, Debra Weed and husband, Stuart, Seymour; a son, Michael Blackwell and wife, Kay, Knoxville; two grandchildren, Callie Blackwell, Nashville, and Kelly Weed, Seymour; two step-grandchildren, Jessica and Rachel Hemphill; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, at Broome Funeral Home in Rogersville. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Andy Willis officiating. Interment will follow at Happy Valley Memorial Park in Elizabethton, Tenn. Online condolences may be made at www.broomefuneralhome.com.

Broome Funeral Home, Rogersville, is serving the Blackwell family.

Happy Valley Memorial Park