LaRue Blackwell

ANNA, Ill. -- LaRue H. Blackwell, 87, of Anna died Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Ill.

He was born June 12, 1921, in Tylertown, Miss., son of Ora and Mary Ann Luvesta Pittman Blackwell. He and Lora L. Grammer were married Dec. 23, 1948.

Blackwell was bookkeeper several years with Illinois Baptist State Association. He also served a number of churches in numerous roles including founding member of University Baptist Church of Carbondale, deacon, Sunday school teacher, church training director and financial secretary. He was an active member of First Baptist Church in Anna.

He served in the U.S. Army as a communications heavy radar radio operator during World War II in the European Theater. He received five Bronze Stars and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.

Blackwell received a bachelor of arts degree in accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. He worked at several CPA firms, maintained his own bookkeeping and tax service, and was an accountant in general accounting 24 years at Southern Illinois University. He taught English in China eight years.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Gary Blackwell of Pascagoula, Miss.; two daughters, Karen Engell of Longmeadow, Mass., Gayle Stearns of Carbondale; three sisters, Inis Holmes of Jackson, Miss., Mildred Henderson of Monroe, La., Mary Ella Magee of Tylertown; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8:30 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Anna, with the Rev. Tony Foeller officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park.