Dr. Joseph Blanton

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dr. Joseph C. Blanton passed from this life into heaven Wednesday, July 29, 2020.

He practiced pediatrics in Sikeston for nearly 60 years and was one of the nation's most senior practicing pediatricians when he retired earlier this year.

Blanton was born Dec. 21, 1930, in Cape Girardeau to Harry and Maureen Daley Blanton. He grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, Missouri, while his father served four terms as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. While in St. Louis, he attended Holy Redeemer Grade School and St. Louis University High School. Blanton played center on the Midget Football squad and ran the half-mile in track. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

When the family returned to Sikeston in 1946, he began attending Sikeston High School, where he served as senior class president of the graduating class of 1948. While returning from a Charleston-Sikeston football game, he witnessed a serious traffic accident and decided then he wanted to be a doctor. He attended Saint Louis University and, after his junior year, was admitted to the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, where he graduated in 1955. While in medical school, he began dating Nancy Rose Raupp of Decatur, Illinois, a student at Fontbonne College. They married in Decatur on June 16, 1956, and celebrated their 64th anniversary earlier this year.

After graduating from medical school, Blanton worked for a year in a pathology lab and then began a residency at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and ultimately served as chief resident. He then served as a pediatrician in the U.S. Navy at the Portsmouth, Virginia, Naval Hospital, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. When he finished his tour of duty in 1961, he returned with his family to his hometown of Sikeston, joining the newly formed Ferguson Medical Group and becoming its fifth partner. When he returned home, he became the second board-certified pediatrician between St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee. He spent the next six decades taking care of children from all over Southeast Missouri, including those with the most serious medical issues. He continued to work until his full retirement earlier this year at age 89. Thousands of patients will recall being referred to as "Darlin'," "Sweet Thing," "Old Timer" or "Tiger" during visits with Dr. Joe. With the limited number of pediatricians in the area, he took calls every other night for 30 years. He never missed a day of work due to illness.

Blanton was a fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of Missouri Academy of Pediatrics and listed yearly in "The Best Doctors in America." Gov. Christopher Bond appointed him to serve on the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. He served as the medical director of Sikeston Regional Center for Developmental Disabilities, chairman of Physicians Task Force of Missouri State Department of Social Services, and a director of the Scott County Health Department. He also served as a member of Sikeston School Board. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce in 2001.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy Blanton, of the home; children, Joseph C. (Felecia) Blanton Jr. of Sikeston, Dr. Mark Blanton of Sikeston, Madeline Blanton (Dr. Knox) Kerr of Jacksonville, Florida, and Dr. Kevin (Amy) Blanton of Sikeston. Dr. Kevin Blanton now practices as a pediatrician at Ferguson Medical Group in emulation of his father. Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Blanton have seven grandchildren, Mark Blanton, Jake Kerr, Cullen Kerr, Elizabeth Blanton, Luke Blanton, Grace Blanton and Caroline Blanton. Elizabeth is a second-year medical student at the University of Missouri. He was very proud of all of his grandchildren.

Blanton is also survived by a sister, Anne Tlapek of Cape Girardeau, and brothers, Judge Lewis (Barbara) Blanton of Sikeston and Dr. Harry B. (Jane) Blanton of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Maureen Daley Blanton, and siblings, Rosemary Barr Quatmann, Patricia Kavanaugh, Maureen Klein Graham and Dr. John Blanton.

Blanton enjoyed studying genealogy and became proficient at using his computer to conduct research. He read constantly and favored history books and spy novels. He diligently followed the St. Louis Cardinals, beginning his loyalty by taking streetcar rides to Sportsman's Park and watching the games without a ticket as a member of the Knothole Gang. Blanton collected and read all of the "Horatio Alger" books his father had read as a boy.

He loved working in the yard both at his current home and in Blanton Woods near his childhood home on North Ranney Street. He did all yard work by hand to make the experience last as long as possible. He gave his primary focus in his later years to helping his family and attended all of his grandchildren's school and other events without fail with wife, Nancy, and his son, Mark. Blanton always put the interests of others first.

The family wants to thank the priests at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church over the years where Blanton attended Mass whenever the doors were open; his partners, employees and many patients at Ferguson Medical Group; his longtime nurse, Ida Cowell; Almeter Marshall, Sandra Douglas, Lamar Douglas and the other family caregivers; neighbors on Cotton Trace and other friends; and the extended Blanton and Raupp families.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Blanton's grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Ben Swiney will be an honorary pallbearer. The family will host an Irish Wake in Blanton's honor at Blanton Woods on North Ranney Street in Sikeston at a later date.

The family requests memorial gifts be made to Birthright, 2633 Hopper Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701; St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 105 Stoddard St., Sikeston, MO 63801; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org; or a charity of choice.

Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.