Mitchell "Duke" O'Neal Blalock

Mitchell O’Neal “Duke” Blalock, 84, of Jonesboro, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, September 23, 3009. He was born April 27, 1925 in Bay, Arkansas. He resided all his adult life in and around Jonesboro. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mitchell and Margaret Blalock; son, Kenny O’Neal Blalock. He was a WWII Navy veteran serving n the South Pacific. He also served 29 years in the National Guard. He worked 24 years at Frolic Footwear and 18 years at the FMC Corporation. He was a member of Union Grove Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Ida Marie Blalock; daughter Jamie McLemore and husband Don; grandson, Russell King; granddaughter Sha-fawn Blalock; two great granddaughters, Macaila and Sakkaora; sisters Benita Colbert and Pat Copeland; brothers, Dick, Bill, Dewayne, Eugene, Alton and a special God-son, Shane Rodgers.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Brother Graig Stull and Brother Gary Gibson officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be the members of the Craighead County Veterans Guard, who will also be providing full military honors, with burial at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. Members of the National Guard referred to Duke as “Pop”. He will be missed by a host of loving friends and family. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 Friday night at Emerson Funeral Home.

For those wishing to leave lasting memorials, the family requests you please consider the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, 3406 S. Culberhouse, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72403. To sign an online guest book, go to www.emersonfuneralhome.com.