Blansett Family Obituaries
Blanscet, Shell Jr.
OZARK — Shell Blanscet Jr., 81, of Ozark died Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, in Fort Smith. He was a retired executive director of Boys Club of America in Hilo, Hawaii, served in the Navy during World War II, and was a member of VFW, USS Essex Foundation and Rotary International.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday at First Christian Church in Ozark with burial at Highland Cemetery in Ozark under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; a son, Shell Blanscet of Dallas; and a sister, Jane Ferguson of Ozark.
Pallbearers will be Artie Clark, Jim Edgin, Bill Gossage, David Jenkins, Jerry Peirce and Scott Stone.
The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the First Christian Church in Ozark.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 212 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, in the name of Shell Blanscet.
Published in the Thursday, August 11, 2005 edition of The Times Record, Fort Smith Arkansas
Submitted by Norman Blansett
Here's a more detailed version:
Shell Blanscet Jr.
The angels sang a little louder. The trumpets blew a little stronger. Heaven became a little brighter. God smiled. America's youth, however, lost one of its all-time greatest advocates Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, when Shell Blanscet Jr. died at the age of 81.
Born to the late Shell Blanscet Sr. and Ressie Mayner Blanscet on April 14, 1924, Shell was predestined to leave his indelible fingerprints on the lives of communities around our nation. Following graduation from Ozark High School in 1943, Shell gave service to his country in the Navy during World War II as a radar man aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex, earning 13 battle stars. Upon being honorably discharged in 1945, Shell played professional baseball and was a scout for the Boston Red Sox. It was during this time he began a career dedicated to improving the lives and opportunities of the youth of America. Shell first volunteered at the boys club of Richmond, Calif., and within a few years, was asked to start and manage the first boys club in, at the time, territory of Hawaii. Among many noteworthy accomplishments during his 32 years of boys club work, Shell initiated and organized franchised Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball and franchised Pop-Warner Football to the island of Hawaii. He introduced "baseball under the lights" by planning and constructing the first regulation lighted Little League and Babe Ruth baseball stadiums. Following a tidal wave in 1960 that completely destroyed the boy's club facilities, Shell was able to organize, plan and rebuild within two years, a 14-acre state-of-the-art complex. Upon retirement and his return to Arkansas in 1980, Shell quickly began serving the Ozark community by coaching Babe Ruth and American Legion Baseball. Shell also gave his time and expertise to the Ozark School System, serving the school board for 15 years. He was instrumental in the development, design and construction of the new high school and Hillbilly Activity Center. Shell lived his final years on his cattle ranch he so loved south of the river.
He is survived in loving memory by his wife of 62 years, Betty Cannon Blanscet; son, Shell Tracy Blanscet of Dallas; and a sister, Jane Blanscet Ferguson. He was preceded in death by his brother, Hoyt Gene Blanscet.
Shell will be laid to rest on Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. with services at the First Christian Church in Ozark under the direction of Smith Mortuary of Charleston. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery in Ozark. Honoring Shell and his family in service as pallbearers will be Artie Clark, Jim Edgin, Bill Gossage, David Jenkins, Jerry Peirce and Scott Stone. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Acord, Lester Blanscet, Stanson Davis, James Ford, Scott Harrison, Darran Perkins, Harold Pickartz and Bob Thompson.
Visitation will be Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Ozark. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 212 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, in the name of Shell Blanscet.
Printed in The Spectator newspaper, Ozark, Arkansas
Submitted by: Eldon J. Edgin
©2005 by Norman Blansett
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