Trooper David Shawn Blanton, Jr., G-540, age 24, a two-year veteran with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol died a hero on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, in the line of duty. He was a native of Swain County and was very proud of his Cherokee heritage. Shawn was the first member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to become a North Carolina State Highway patrolman. He was a 2002 graduate of Smoky Mountain High School where he played varsity football, baseball, wrestling, and track. He loved all sports, especially fishing and hunting with his family. He coached the girl's J. V. softball team at Smoky Mountian High School and played for two softball recreation leagues: The Explosion, a law enforcement and rescue team in Waynesville and Beaudry's, a team in Cherokee. He is survived by his wife, Michaela Layman Blanton; a two-week old son, Brendan Tye Blanton; his father and stepmother, David S. and Jennifer Blanton of Sylva; his mother, Jeanell Youngbird of Cherokee; paternal grandmother, Nikki Nations and her husband, Kenny, of Whittier; maternal grandmother, Mary Youngbird of Cherokee; three brothers, Jerry Russell Blankenship of Whittier, Jim Kye Blankenship of Cherokee, and Jesse James Blanton of Sylva; a sister, Natalie Erin Blanton of Sylva; mother-in-law, Cindi Layman and her fiancé, Dave Grant of Canton; brother-in-law, Ryan Layman and his wife, Shea, and their son, Jaxon of Bethel; five aunts, Sarita Harjo of OK, Faren Fleetwood of OH, Debra Pruitt of Whittier, Jamie Blanton of Cherokee, and Barbara Jones of Whittier; step-grandparents, George and Peggy Lambert of Cherokee; and several cousins and other extended family members. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference Center with the Reverend David Christy officiating and remarks will also be delivered by Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Burial will follow at Thomas Cemetery in Whittier. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m. on Friday at Wells Funeral Home of Canton. Pallbearers will be law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, his brothers and brother-in-law, and friend, Tony Belcher. Memorials may be made to the Tye Blanton Fund, in memory of Trooper Shawn Blanton, c/o The State Employees Credit Union, at any branch throughout western North Carolina.