Jackie ‘Jack’ Blaylock, 81

Dec. 31, 1941 —

Jan. 31, 2023

 

CRESCO - Jack L. Blaylock, age 81, of Cresco, Iowa, died on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 at Accura HealthCare in Cresco.

A Memorial Service will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Cresco, with Dr. Jon Van Dine officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday prior to the start of the service.

Jackie Lew Blaylock was born on Dec. 31, 1941, in What Cheer, Iowa, to Forrest and Cora (Beaver) Blaylock. He went to school there, at Tri-County Community School. He graduated from Tri-County High School in 1959. 

After high school, Jack joined the Air Force, where he served from 1962-1966. He was stationed in Kansas and California, where he refueled missiles for the military. After the Air Force, he moved to Cedar Rapids and worked for Collins Radio. That’s where he met Devita Powell. They were married in Cedar Rapids in July 1967. The couple had two children, Ty in 1969 and Connie in 1972. 

The family moved back to What Cheer, where they briefly owned a gas station for a few years. He was also on the fire department and a member of the Lions Club in What Cheer. 

In 1976, the family moved to Cresco, where Jack worked for Kaiser Ag Chemicals. He then went back to work at Rockwell Collins in Decorah. He was a member of the Cresco Wildlife Club and the Driftrunners Snowmobile Club. In his free time, he enjoyed working on and restoring old cars and tractors. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR, NFL football, fishing and camping. He will be missed dearly by his friends and family.

Jack is survived by his wife, Devita of Cresco; son, Ty (Teri) Blaylock of Cresco; daughter, Connie (Curt) Gray of South Jordan, Utah; grandchildren, Kyle (Noelle) Blaylock of Bondurant, Iowa, Kristyn Blaylock of Cedar Falls, Iowa and Courtney Gray and Cooper Gray of South Jordan; sisters, Florence and Jan; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Don and Jim; and sisters, Irene, Ilene and Gladys.