Cecil O. Blaylock

Cecil Osler Blaylock, 95, of Cape Girardeau passed away Saturday Nov. 17, 2007, at the Ratliff Care Center.

He was born July 7, 1912, at Sedgewickville, Mo., son of Dr. R.D. and Sallie Ann Bowers Blaylock. He married Chlola V. Statler on Feb. 9, 1936, at Portageville, Mo.

Mr. Blaylock was a retired employee of Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. He retired in July of 1977, having worked for the company nearly 42 years. His telephone career began with AT&T in 1929. He was laid off during the Depression of the 1930s. He resumed his telephone career with the former Southeast Missouri telephone company. After having worked 7 and a half years with the company at Portageville, he was transferred to Cape Girardeau. During the last 30 years with Southwestern Bell he was outside plant engineering.

Mr. Blaylock was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, past president of the Methodist Men's Club and past president and longtime member of the Men's Bible Class. For a number of years he was member of the church choir and in years past taught a Sunday school class of young boys. While in Portageville he served on the board of the Methodist Church and for a time was superintendent of Sunday school.

A longtime member of Kiwanis International, he was the first president of the Portageville club, past lieutenant governor of division 15 of old Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas District, and for several years served as treasurer of the local club. While in Portageville, he was cited by American Red Cross for services as 1945 War Fund Chairman of New Madrid County.

Mr. Blaylock was a member of Harold O. Grauel Lodge 672 A.F. and A.M. where he served as secretary for 30 years.

A past master of Portageville lodge 166, past high priest of Wilson Chapter 75 Royal Arch Masons, past master of Cape Council 20 Cryptic Masons, past commander of Cape Girardeau Commandary 55 Knights Templar, past patron of St. Marks Chapter 167 order of the Eastern Star, past watchman of Shepherds of Calvary Shrine No. 8 of the White Shrine of Jerusalem and past district deputy grand master of the 49th district of Missouri. He also served on the committee of credentials of the Grand Lodge A.F. and A.M. of Missouri for 20 years. He was a 32nd-degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was invested a knight commander of the Court of Honor in 1975 and was a past president of the Capaha Scottish Rite Club. He also served as dad for the local Demolay Chapter and was an honorary member of the Demolay legion of honor.

Survivors include his wife, Chlola V. Blaylock of Cape Girardeau; daughter, Sally A. (Lloyd) Daniels of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by a son, Richard D. Blaylock, and a sister and brother.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel, with Masonic Services at 7 p.m.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Jeff Long officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.