This past week, Loranger residents laid to rest a hero of their community, Curtis Eugene Blalock, but everyone called him “Jack”. I was there and felt like I was taking part in a Montgomery-Gentry Country Music Video – the kind that makes you proud to be an American and that reminds you of what makes America so great. The Obituary below really doesn’t do service to the man, but I’m not sure how 88 productive years can be summarized into just 1 paragraph. I’ll try to further summarize.
Jack Blalock was a teacher in the Tangi-School system of Agriculture and was a supporter of the FFA in the Tangi-School system. As was testified during the funeral, although Jack and Vertalee couldn’t have children, Jack was a father to the fatherless. Uncle Jack loved kids and coached the local baseball team. He and Vertalee, as a couple, were the kind of people that gave their lives in support of their community. And, their community loved them. I remember attending their 50th Wedding Anniversary in the VFW Hall and it was jammed packed with people. If I’m not mistaken, between the Wake and Funeral, there were over 400 to 500 that came to pay their respects. As I started this in memory, Loranger buried their HERO last week. And, I was reminded once again of “who” the backbone of this great country really is….the hardworking, dedicated citizens that live daily for the commitments they made many years ago! We’re going to miss you, Uncle Jack! Bill Cobb
……And, NO, there was no President Obama there to apologize for what our great Country stands for.
A resident of Loranger and native of Alexandria, he died at 3:40 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, at his home. He was 88 and a retired agriculture teacher of 40 years at Loranger High School, an Army veteran of World War II and coached Little League baseball for many years. He was a member of Oak Grove Church of Christ, the Loranger American Legion post and a past member of Loranger Ruritan Club. Mr. Blalock won numerous medals in the Senior Olympics. He was a Future Farmers of America adviser and avid hunter. He played football, ran track and played baseball at Southeastern Louisiana University. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at Oak Grove Church of Christ, Independence, on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 10:30 a.m., conducted by Brother Dale Ziebarth. Interment in Loranger Cemetery, Loranger. He is survived by wife of 61 years, Vertalee Hayden Blalock, Loranger; two brothers, Leon Blalock and Charlie Blalock, both of Alexandria; two sisters, Francis McCain, Chicago, and Essie Marie Smith, Alexandria; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by father and mother, James Marion Blalock and Mary Essie Stewart Blalock; a brother, James Marion Blalock Jr.; and two sisters, Maude Jones and Elizabeth Moreaux. For an online guestbook, visit www.mckneelys.com.
