Fred Joe Blackburn, a longtime Cushing businessman and resident, passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at the Hillcrest Hospital in Cushing at the age of 73. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday at the First Assembly of God Church in Yale. Pastor Randell Newby will officiate. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Memorial Park Cemetery, Nowata, Oklahoma.
Family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday evening at the Palmer Marler Funeral Home
Arrangements are entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing, Ok.
Fred was born on August 4, 1941 in Picher, Oklahoma to the late Albert and Margaret (Castoe) Blackburn. He grew up in Nowata, graduating from Nowata High School in 1958. Fred married the love of his life Marcella Ann Stutsman on May 19, 1960 in Miami, Oklahoma. They lived in Nowata and various communities before settling in Cushing in 1964.
Fred was a Long Haul Truck Driver for a short time in 1963. He started his own general automotive business in 1964 Blackburn’s Garage later specializing in transmissions known as Blackburn’s Transmissions.
In 1974 he played guitar and sang with the Mehan Valley Boys Bluegrass Band until 1986 when he started his own band named Overland Bluegrass Express. He began playing with the Arbuckle Bluegrass Band in 1999.
On April 13, 2003 he was baptized by Reverend Sonny Johnston in Shamrock, Ok. Fred and Marcella are members of the First Assembly of God Church in Yale and the Oklahoma Bluegrass Club. He loved spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years Marcella of the home, son Robert Darin Stutsman and wife Dori of Rockwall, Texas, daughter JoAnn Jackson of Cushing, grandchildren Joshua Stutsman, April Jo Watson and husband Brandon, Cody Jackson and Dalton Jackson, great grandchildren Jayden Stutsman and Jaxson Watson, and extended family that they raised, loved and cared for as their own, nephew Derrick Johnston of Florida, nieces Brenda Whalen of Warren, Ohio, Terri Smith of Cushing, Jewel Stutsman of Stillwater, Christyl Johnston, Ashley Dunn, Michelle Scott, and Kaitlyn Dunn all of Cushing, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Tiny Joe and daughter Regina Dawn, granddaughter Kiara Dawn Lane, brother Larry Dale Blackburn, and sister Mary Louise Barnes.
Condolences and online guest book are available at www.palmermarlerfh.com.
