Susan Rebecca Roberts Blanton

On July 3, 1940 a beautiful baby girl with big brown eyes was born to Helen and Ray Roberts in Dandridge, TN. They named her Susan Rebecca. In July, 1943, the little family of three moved to Kingsport, TN and in December 1943, Susan had a baby sister named Betty Jane. Susan and Betty were the best of friends always.

Susan graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in 1959. She moved to Atlanta, GA and attended Atlanta School of Business. After she graduated, she returned to Kingsport to accept a position at Tennessee Eastman Company. While working at Eastman, she met the love of her life, Jack Dixon Blanton. After dating for two years, they were married and enjoyed 48 ½ years of happiness. In 1974 they were blessed with a son, Jackson Ray Blanton.

Susan was a delightful person and she never met a stranger. She loved all holidays and decorated for each one. She loved antiques and their home was warm and friendly. Susan was a keeper of memories.

She also loved to garden and grew lovely ferns, irises, shamrocks, day lilies and old fashioned roses. She always made sure the birds had plenty of food and water throughout the year.

Susan loved her son Jackson so much. When he was in school, Susan was always active in PTA and was an active homeroom mother. If there were a child in need, she was there to provide clothes, food or a hug. Jackson learned to be an exceptional cook standing by his mother's side. They loved to camp at the beach and collect seashells and crabs. They collected trains and made fun train villages.

She was so happy when Jackson married Lisa Cleek and they gave her two grandchildren, Jacob and McKinley, the apples of her eye.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Ray Roberts, two baby brothers, and her father and mother-in-law, Jay and Bonnie Blanton.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jack Blanton; son, Jackson Blanton and wife, Lisa; two grandchildren, Jacob Ray Blanton and McKinley Reece Blanton; her sister, Betty and husband, Charles Dotson; niece, Beth Dotson Messersmith; nephew, Grant Dotson; aunt, Edna Walsh; and cousins, Rosemary Cooper, George Robert Walsh, Patty Crowder and Kathy Dodson Wierenga.

To all those who loved Susan, we say thank you, you helped to brighten her life. A special thank you to Dr. Mack Hicks, her physician and friend of 24 years, and his nurse, Trisha Garber. We are also thankful to Shamrock McClellan, a special friend, who was so caring during Susan's 3 year bout with cancer.
A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday at 6:00 pm at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport with Rev. Joe Mason officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service.

The graveside service will be held on Friday at 11:00 am at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

If you would like to make a memorial contribution in Susan's name, a contribution to the American Cancer Society, 408 Princeton Rd., Johnson City, TN 37601, would be appreciated.

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