JEWELL W. BLACKWELL Age 81 of Gary departed this life on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 at Methodist Hospital Northlake. He was born in Gary, Indiana on October 9, 1922 to Arthur & Florida Bell (Heflin) Blackwell. He was an active member of SS. Monica & Luke Catholic Church. Jewell was a graduate of Roosevelt High School, Class of 1943. He served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II where he received an Honorable Discharge. He was a retiree of the U.S. Postal Service where he was employed for 34 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Grutka Council 7878 and 4th Degree Abraham Lincoln Assembly. He served as President of St. Monica Federal Credit Union until his illness. Preceded in death by his parents; 5 brothers, Arthur, Ernest, James, Nathaniel, and Rahutis Blackwell. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 54 years, Bernice; 1 daughter, Marilyn Jean Hall; 1 son, Charles Blackwell, both of Gary; 2 granddaughters, Chelsie J. Blackwell and Jonquia J. (James) Vaulx; 1 great granddaughter, Jayda J. Vaulx all of Merrillville; 5 sisters, Mary E. Matthews of East St. Louis, IL, Imogene Spence, Ida Bell Headd, Tanya Morris, all of Gary, Audrey May Shoffner of Aurora, IL; 1 brother, Frederick of Gary; sister-in-law, Yvonne Blackwell of Chicago, Illinois; 1 aunt, Janie Blackwell of Gary, IN; 2 sisters-in-law, Ernestine (Tommie) Webb of Gary, Dorothy Johnson of Houston, Texas; mother-in-law, Anna Terry of Beckley, WV; caregiver, Diane Taylor; 2 God Sons, William Spence II and Charles Smith, Jr.; 3 God Daughters, Brenda Miles Linda Webb & Shanelle Clark; Loyal Lifetime Friends, Marie L. Smith & Vivian Streeter; and a host of many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Visitation Friday, June 4, 2004, 1-6 pm. with family hour, 6-8 p.m. at SS. Monica & Luke Catholic Church, 645 Rhode Island St., Gary. Funeral mass at the church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2004, with Fr. Pat Gaza officiating. Interment Oak Hill Cemetery. Professional services rendered by Smith, Bizzell, Warner & Son Funeral Home.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Post-Tribune from Jun. 3 to Jun. 4, 2004.