Blaylock, Orval "Roye" (1924-2013)
BLAYLOCK, ROYE, MCDANIEL, HOOKER, MORTON, DANDENEAU, RILEY, LANE, WOLFE, LAMB
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/31/2013 at 20:34:11
Orval "Roye" Blaylock
(September 23, 1924 - December 12, 2013)U.S. Veteran Orval “Roye” Blaylock, 89, recently of Holmen, Wisconsin, formerly of Coon Rapids, Iowa, and Lake Mills, Iowa, died on Thursday, December 12, 2013, at the Bluffview Memory Care Facility in Holmen, Wisconsin.
Roye was born on September 23, 1924, in Harrisonville, Missouri, to the Reverend O.A. and Thelma (Roye) Blaylock. He graduated from Knob Knoster, Missouri, High School in 1942. Just after he had enrolled at Central Missouri State College, he was drafted into the Army during World War II. Among other distinguished awards, Roye, as a part of the 78th Division anti-tank company, was awarded the Bronze Star for actions in the Huertgen Forest, at the Battle of the Bulge, and in the Ardennes Forest; and he was one of the first soldiers to drive a vehicle across the Rhine River pontoon bridge at Remagen, Germany.
Upon his discharge at the end of the war, Roye enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia where he earned a BS Degree in Agricultural Instruction. Then, on June 2, 1948, he married Ruth McDaniel in Knob Knobster, Missouri.
Roye loved teaching. Even before taking a full-time job as a high school Ag teacher in Lake Mills, Iowa, he began teaching Ag classes to veterans in Missouri. After coming to Lake Mills, he continued this practice in night classes for several years. During his career, he also taught high school Ag in Orange City, Iowa, and Coon Rapids, Iowa. While teaching, he would take time each and every June to drive several of his high school FFA students out west to visit large cattle operations. This trip always included a swing by Yellowstone National Park. In his later years, he worked for the Garst Seed Company.
Roye was a long time member of several organizations including the American Legion, the National Education Association, the Iowa State Education Association, the FFA and the Heritage Travel Club. Very active in local church activities wherever he lived, he also taught adult Sunday school classes in addition to his regular high school classes.
Roye and Ruth became world travelers, visiting all fifty states and all the Canadian provinces. They returned to Europe twice to retrace the 78th “Lightening”ť Division’s progress through England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He even allowed Ruth to kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland. They would rarely miss the semi-annual 78th Division Army Reunions. However, he most enjoyed visiting Yellowstone National Park and Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Roye also had an especially poignant love of animals. Although he raised beef cattle most of his life as well as sheep for a number of years, he found caring for his horses most satisfying. He took great pleasure in riding Fancy and Foxy. Moreover, he made horse shows, parades, and saddle clubs a part of his life for many years. Indeed, he so thoroughly loved his animals that he could not help but pass his delight in them on to his children and grandchildren.
Roye is survived by Ruth, his wife of 65 years; his daughters, Diane (David) Hooker, of Wisconsin, and Debra Morton, of Minnesota; his son, Dean, of Iowa; three granddaughters, Wendi (Brandon) Dandeneau, of Minnesota, with great-granddaughters, Abigail and Mckenzie; Gina (Chris) Riley, of Wisconsin, with great-granddaughter, Ella; and Shaundra Morton, of Minnesota; and two grandsons, Brandon (Emily)and Brett (Sandy) Morton, of Minnesota.
Roye was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lynnel Lane; a brother, Dale Blaylock; a special aunt, Ruth (Bootsie) Wolfe; a daughter, Donna Lamb; and two grandsons, Brian and Joseph Hooker.
Thanks to the Bluffview Memory Care staff for their care and concern during the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 23, 2013, at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Lake Mills with Rev. Jerry Robertson officiating. Burial will be in Sunnyside Cemetery, Lake Mills, with military honors by the Otto Chose Post #235. Visitation will be on Sunday, December 22, 2013, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Asbury United Methodist Church, 107 E. Main Street, Lake Mills, Iowa 50450, or to the First United Methodist Church, 119-4th Avenue, Coon Rapids, Iowa, 50058.
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