Tommy Lee Blaylock

Tommy was born in Osceola, Arkansas, to Harvey Lee and Ollie Blaylock. He grew up in rural Arkansas with three sisters and two brothers. Tommy moved to Oregon when he was 16 and joined the Marines when he was 18. After three years of service, he returned home to work at the family business, Turner Building Supply in Turner, Oregon. One day he drove the forklift to the gas station noticed a pretty girl with out of town plates on her car. He said hello, they exchanged names, and he offered to introduce her to some of the locals. Sharon’s friend had already mentioned Tommy by name as someone she should meet, so it must have been fate. Immediately he and Sharon hit it off and the couple was married on April 13, 1966 in Reno, Nevada. In 1972, Tommy and Sharon bought 40 acres in Mill City and raised their five children there. The family raised cows, horses, chickens, and pigs on the farm. Although it was hard work, it was a labor of love and the family was closed and enjoyed being together. Bucking hay in the summer was a chore, but also a fun time of bonding with family and friends. Even the grandkids now look forward to helping every summer. By trade, Tommy was a roofer, but as an extremely intelligent man, he could do anything he set out to. He roofed businesses, apartment complexes, and many other projects, and also flipped houses on the side. For a time in the 1970’s, he was a Sergeant in the reserve program at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. He flew airplanes and built and flew ultralight planes. Tommy could build or create anything. He even made all of his daughters beautiful saddle stands for the saddles their grandfather had made them. For fun Tommy liked to deer hunt and ride four-wheelers. Tommy was an incredible man with a good heart. He was honest, caring, and loving to those around him. He adored his family and worked hard to provide a wonderful life for them. Tommy made people feel important when they talked to them and was aware of and concerned about people’s feelings. He will be intensely missed by his beloved family and all that knew him. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, his son Steven, and his brothers Vernon and Jerry. He is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Sharon; son John Blaylock; daughters Sherry Vogel, Susie Dent, and Terry Blaylock; 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Tommy’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, at the Stayton Community Center. He will be laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery next to his son, Steven.