Dewey Blankenship

Dewey Lavon Blankenship, a longtime resident of Catoosa, Oklahoma, passed from this life on March 5th, 2020, at the age of 93. Dewey was born September 17th, 1926 in Piedmont, Oklahoma, the firstborn of sharecroppers James Elijah and Celia (Major) Blankenship. At an early age, Dewey and his family relocated to an 80 acre tract of land his father purchased in Rogers County, four miles east of Catoosa, Oklahoma. Dewey attended school at Lone Star Independent School, graduating from the 8th grade. In December 1944, at the age of 18, Dewey was inducted into the United States Army. In a short time, Dewey earned the military qualification of Expert Rifleman. Following basic training, and with a fifty-dollar U.S. Savings Bond he had won with his shooting skills on the rifle range, Dewey returned to Catoosa on leave. At the age of 19, Dewey married his friend and former classmate Shirley McMillan, in a ceremony before the Justice of Peace at the Rogers County Courthouse in Claremore, Oklahoma on June 2nd 1945. This union would last over 64 years until Shirley’s death in 2009. Dewey would go on to serve as a Private First Class with Company A, of the 720th Military Police Battalion, serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations. His Battalion was responsible for carrying out policing operations in Tokyo, Japan soon after the Japanese surrender. Dewey was Honorably Discharged in November 1946. Following discharge from the Army, Dewey and Shirley made their home east of Catoosa following the purchase of a 10-acre tract of land located on State Highway 33, in Wagoner County, and not far from where they both grew up, and close to other extended family. Dewey was employed by The Service Pipeline Company in Tulsa, as a welder/machinist for many years prior to the company merging with Standard Oil of Indiana and the ultimate closure of the Tulsa facility. After a short time, Dewey went to work for American Airlines as a welder. He continued employment with American Airlines until his retirement in 1982. Dewey and Shirley’s retirement years were spent traveling with friends and relatives, often on bus tours to various parts of the United States. They also enjoyed camping out, fishing, gardening, and square dancing. Dewey was preceded in death by both his parents, his wife of 64 years, a brother, Kenneth Blankenship and sister Joyce McMillan. Dewey is survived by his son, Scott Blankenship and wife Shari of Catoosa, Oklahoma. A granddaughter, Kira Swaggerty and husband Stefan, also of Catoosa. A grandson, Kyle Blankenship and his wife Jennie of Owasso, Oklahoma. Dewey leaves behind six grandchildren, Jaxson Swaggerty, Jocelyn Swaggerty, Carbon Blankenship, Jett Swaggerty, Bear Blankenship, and Jagger Swaggerty. Also surviving, a brother Donald Blankenship and wife Helen also of Catoosa. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hayhurst Funeral Home of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The Blankenship family will receive family and friends at the funeral home on Monday, March 9, from 5 to 7pm. Services Graveside services to honor Dewey will be held at the Timber Ridge Cemetery, on Tuesday, March 10th, 2020 at 1:00pm, with internment to follow. The family has requested that monetary gifts, in lieu of flowers, be contributed to the Timber Ridge Cemetery Perpetual Maintenance Fund.

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Dewey Blankenship

September 17, 1926 - March 5, 2020