Jimmy Ray Blanken was born July 11th, 1949 in San Jose, California to Mary Emma (Adams) and Carl Lee Musick. He passed away at his home in Elk City, Oklahoma on Saturday, November 11th, 2023 at the age of 74years and 4 months.
Jimmy grew up in the Herring community and at the age of 6 was adopted by Nick and Mary (Fish) Blanken. At the age of 15, he moved with his family to Elk City, Oklahoma where Jimmy continued to go to school. Jimmy found employment at a dairy farm in Perryton, Texas and later worked in the seismograph industry where he was mainly in Oklahoma. He later was a factory worker for Enka spinning synthetic material in Tennessee and went to Texas for a short period of time. He returned to Elk City where he began his career as a mechanic for Smithy Chevrolet. He worked his way up to service manager and spent a short time in the sales department. Throughout the years, Jimmy drove a truck for various companies and worked for L.C. Price at High Plains Services. He later found employment with L.B. Cumming at Cummings Chevrolet where he was a detail manager. It was during this time he was called by the Lord to enter the ministry and began evangelizing. For close to 40 years he continued to spread the gospel and would later be a part of the “Salt and Pepper Team” while he was with Rev.Archie Jackson.Jimmy also enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing guitar, driving backroads, and spending time with his family enlightening them with “dashboard sermons”.
He is preceded in death by both sets of parents; sister, Judy Turville; 2 brothers, Leroy Musick, Everett Musick; great granddaughter, Paige Lucile Conner; various nieces and nephews; and a life long friend, Rev. Archie Jackson.
Jimmy is survived by his wife, Janice, of the home; 6 children, Shawn Willyard and wife, Amy, Wilson, OK, Kelly Willyard and wife, Trina, Elk City, OK, Shannon Robbins, Hammon, OK, Whitney Vanderwork and husband, Dell, Elk City, OK, Nick Blanken and wife, Justine, Elk City, OK, and Kaylyn Blanken, Elk City, OK; 22 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 1 great grandson on the way; 3 siblings, Roger Rickert, Deelilah Bartz and husband, Tommy, Buddy Musick and wife, Helen; 3 life long friends, James Price, L.C. Price and Peter Gee and a host of other half brothers, half sisters, other relatives and friends.
