Donald RayBlankenship

Donald Ray Blankenship, 59, of Merit passed away November 25, 2012 at Hunt Regional Medical Center.  Services will be held at 2:30 PM Wednesday at Merit Baptist Church with Rev. David Hawkins and Rev. Johnnie Henderson officiating.  Interment will follow at Merit Cemetery.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.

Born December 16, 1952, in Farmersville, Donald was the son of Elvin and Ella Marie (Seigler) Blankenship.  On March 9, 2002, in Farmersville, he married Monica Necessary.  He was employed by the Collin County Sheriff’s Department as a detention officer and was a member of the Merit Baptist Church.  He was a former member of Farmersville, Greenville and Blue Ridge riding clubs.

His survivors include his wife of Merit; daughter Amber Amin and husband Ronnie of Allen; brothers Jimmy Reames of Rowlett, Johnny Reames of Ponder, and Wendell Reames of Florida; sister Shirley Spradlin of Farmersville; and two grandchildren Eben and Eden Amin of Allen.

He was preceded in death by his mother Ella Marie Reames and step-father Edwin H. Reames; and father Elvin Blankenship in 1956.

Pallbearers will be Frankie Lee Blankenship, Eric Sampson, David Singleton, Victor Martinez, Bryan Thompson, and Scott Spradlin.