James Randell Blakemore
James Randell Blakemore, 65, of Sulphur Springs, formerly of Merit, died Monday, December 26, 2016 at Medical Center of McKinney. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 31, 2016 at New Beginnings Fellowship Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. Wilton McMorris and Rev. James Seigler will officiate. Graveside services will be 12:30 PM, Saturday at Merit Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
Born in Greenville on April 12, 1951, he was the son of James Herman Blakemore and Edith Louise Seigler Blakemore. He was the Agriculture teacher at Celeste I. S. D. for 24 years and transportation director in Sulphur Springs I. S. D. for 6 years. He received the Citizens of the Year award in Celeste.
Mr. Blakemore was a member of New Beginnings Fellowship Baptist Church where he served as Deacon. He loved to help others and always put others before himself. He oversaw the food ministry at his church and ran the Awana Store for children there.
Survivors include his mother, Louise Blakemore; sons, Mike Blakemore and Randy Blakemore; daughter, Rebecca Blakemore; brothers, Larry Blakemore, Billy Blakemore, Jerry Blakemore and David Blakemore; sister, Kay Sharkey; grandchildren, Brayden Blakemore and Aiden Shoaff; close friend, Brother Ray Duck; and former wives, Sue Blakemore and Sara James. His father, J. H. Blakemore preceded him in death.
Pallbearers will be Larry J. Blakemore, Jesse Blakemore, Jeremy Blakemore, Chris Gravely, Larry LaFavers and Roger Claxton. Monty Blakemore will serve as honorary pallbearer.