Obituary of Ray Blevins

Ray Blevins

Of Amherstdale, WV

   Leonard Ray Blevins, 69, of Amherstdale, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 27, 2018, leaving from Dignity Hospice House at Chapmanville, after a long illness.

   He was born on August 6, 1948, at Williamson, a son of the late Mary Jane Thompson Blevins Marcum and Roy Blevins.

   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father, Brady Marcum; his parents-in-law, Tilden and Mae Wells Blair; his brothers-in-law, Thelmar Blair, Tilden “Ed” Blair, and Randall Morgan; his sisters-in-law, Thelma Blair Nichols, Tina Morgan, and Faye Blair.

   Ray was a 1968 graduate of Man High School where he played Hillbilly Football and remained a life long staunch supporter of the Hillbillies.  After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Viet Nam War where he achieved the rank of Sergeant.  Ray joined the Army National Guard and served for nine years with the unit at Monaville, where he received the rank of Sergeant (E-5).  He married the love of his life in 1974 and began his career in the coal mining industry.  Ray worked in the coal mines for over 17 years before becoming disabled and retiring in 1993.  He was a proud member of the UMWA District 17, the American Legion Post 0019, a supporter of Disabled Vets and Wounded Warriors.  He enjoyed youth sports and coached T-Ball with Sherry Thompson and Little League with Pete Jackson for many years.  An outdoorsman, Ray liked to go 4-wheeling with his friends in the mountains and fishing with his grandsons.  A family man, Ray loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren.

   Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 43 years, Louise “Lou” Blair Blevins; one daughter, Amber (Mickey) Hannibal of Man; two sons, Greg (Julie) Blevins of Louisville, MS and Rick (Amber) Blevins of Crown; eight grandchildren, Benjamin, Abigail, Nathaniel, Zechariah, Victoria, Autumn, and Isaiah; one sister, Peggy (Howard) Epperly of Conway, SC; two brothers, Troy (Paula) Blevins and his twin brother, Leland “Lee” Blevins of Amherstdale; his siblings-in-law, Mary and Clifton Turkale, Irene Belcher, Alice Blair and Don Hurley, Irvin Blair, Joe and Mary Blair, Patricia and Tom Burress, Tommy and Deanna Blair, Leona Blair, Georgia Herrel, Darlene Craddock, and Peggy Blair; his lifelong friends and neighbors, Jerry “Bucky” and Teresa “T.T.” Mosley; a special friend, Donna Lowe; and many nieces and nephews along with a host of other relatives and friends.

   Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2018, at the Rita Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church at Rita with Rev. Baxter Toler and Rev. Mike Pollard officiating.  Burial will follow in Guyan Memorial Gardens at Godby.

   Visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at the Rita Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church and one hour prior to services at the church also.

   Online condolences may be sent to www.krantzmcneelyfuneralhome.com

   Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home at Man.