Laretta Blackburn

Laretta was born April 15, 1938, in Mathis, Texas to Carl and Ruth McCoy. She attended elementary schools in Mathis and Orange Grove, Texas. She graduated from Banquete High School as class valedictorian earning a $100 college scholarship. She decided to attend Texas A & I College, now Texas A&M in Kingsville. She was able to live with a Christian couple and kept house for them in exchange for room and board.

She attended the Kingsville Church of Christ where she met the love of her life, Curtis Blackburn. They started dating in January of 1957 and married in June of that year. Laretta went to work while Curtis continued to earn his college degree. They were blessed with a baby daughter, Vicki, the following year. Curtis’ parents helped with the care of Vicki and Laretta continued to do office work until Curtis graduated from A&I in 1959. They moved to Falfurrias, Texas where Curtis worked for Halliburton Company. While there, they were blessed by the birth of their son Dale.

The family moved back to Kingsville when Curtis was employed by Celanese Corporation. When their children started to school, Laretta resumed her studies at A&I and graduated with a teaching degree in Elementary Education in 1970. She taught school in Kingsville, Alta Loma, and Pampa, Texas.

In the various locations where Curtis’ job took them, they were active members of the Church of Christ. Laretta taught ladies and children’s Bible classes and served along side Curtis in his roles as deacon and elder. After retirement, the couple moved to Abilene to be near their children and grandchildren.  Laretta loved to play 42 and 88 with family and friends.  She had weekends, annually, to meet with old friends and play bridge. She enjoyed painting with oil and water colors. Laretta like traveling with friends and family.  She enjoyed cooking and hosted many, many, dinners for family and friends.  Laretta was an active member of Ladies Bible class and Sonshiner’s ministry of the Highland Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Vicki Spargo and a brother, Lawrence McCoy. She is survived by her husband, Curtis, her son, Dale and wife Mittie; grandchildren, Branson Blackburn and his wife, Kate, Bailey Crist and her husband, Cody Crist, Fletcher Spargo, John Spargo and his wife, Eunice; great grandchildren, Paisley and Emma Crist. She is also survived by her sister, Maxine Mann and her husband, Frank, her brother Lawrence’s wife, Kathy Kelley, and her son-in-law, Gary Spargo.

A memorial service will be held Thursday July 6th at 10:00 am in the chapel of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St with a time of visitation to follow at the funeral home.  The family requests that those in attendance dress in casual attire.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Hendrick Hospice or Meals on Wheels.