WILLIAM THOMAS BLACKWELL, JR

COX FUNERAL HOME

BASTROP, LOUISIANA

W.T. “Buddy” Blackwell, Jr., a loving spouse, parent, brother and friend, passed away peacefully on November 28, 2024. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Janet Dean Blackwell; his daughter Elizabeth Blackwell Carroll and her husband Jeremy, his daughter Laura Blackwell Bain and her husband Preston, and his son Tommy Joe Cox; his beloved grandchildren, Natalie Cox Jackson and her husband Zach, Catherine Carroll, Elise Bain and Connor Bain; his brother John Blackwell and his wife Lou and his sister Mary Blackwell Baskin; and his many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his two godchildren, Caroline Evans Payne and David Allen Dienes. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Thomas Blackwell, Sr. and Dorothy Maud Harp Blackwell, and his brother, Richard Harp Blackwell.

He was a native of Mer Rouge and farmed his family’s land for over forty years. He was an avid LSU fan and loved traveling for football games. If he wasn’t on the farm, he was in the kitchen or next to the grill or researching recipes to enjoy with his loved ones. A high point of his year was hosting the annual 4th of July family reunion with the Harp cousins, a tradition established by his father in the 1950s. He was fond of road trips, visiting new places, trying new things and always lived by his motto “Enjoy Life.”

He graduated from Mer Rouge High School where he was an all-state baseball player and an all-district and all-Northeast Louisiana basketball player. He then attended LSU where he had a little too much fun and eventually graduated from ULM. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Among his many accomplishments, he served as Chairman of the local Farm Service Agency, Vice President of the Coulee Gin, Chairman of the Louisiana Cotton Warehouse, and Vice President of M.G. Dickey Industries. He also was involved in the Morehouse Gin & Elevator Company, the Morehouse Parish Library and other community activities and organizations. He was a lifelong member of the Mer Rouge United Methodist Church and served as its Treasurer for 44 years. As he said, he “had a good ride.”

Services will be held at the Mer Rouge United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 2:00 PM. with Patrick Harp Evans as the celebrant. Committal service and burial will follow at the Bonne Idee-Harp Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will be prior to the service at 1:00 PM in the church fellowship hall. 

Serving as pallbearers are Clay Costello, Michael Costello, Ed Lane, Phillip Stafford, Connor Bain and Zach Jackson. Honorary pallbearers include John Dienes, Alex Rankin, Jack Churchwell, George Spires, Charles Evans, and Patrick Evans.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mer Rouge United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 400, Mer Rouge, Louisiana 71261 in his memory.