Ralph Blansett was born June 23, 1913 in Arkansas to parents Steve Blansett (1889-1976) and Theodocia "Docia" Ernest (Finley) Blansett (1890-1984). Until age 17 he lived first in O'kean, Randolph Co, Arkansas and then in Willis, Poinsett Co, Arkansas. In 1931, at age 18, Ralph married Alta Mae (Stevens) Blansett (1915-1988). They had two children. One boy, Vernon Cladius Blansett (1933-1982) and one girl, Janet Blansett (Living). In the early 1940's, Ralph and his family lived for a while in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Early in 1945 they moved back to Arkansas. On July 16, 1945, Ralph, one of his brothers, J. Ray Blansett, and a man named Walter Haney had gone out for a late night of cards and drinking. Ralph, who won a large sum of money and was extremely intoxicated, had fallen asleep in the back seat of his brother's car in the early hours of the morning on the ride home. On the way the men had some engine trouble (overheating) and had to pull over to add water and let the car cool off before returning home. The following morning, July 17, 1945, Ray Blansett, who was also extremely intoxicated the previous night, had no memory of how he had returned home. The car that Ralph had fallen asleep in was found by a boy from the area, Ernest Lee French, near a garage owned by Walter Haney burned beyond recognition. It had burned during the night. Ralph was found deceased, still in the back seat. No trace of the money was ever found. He was 32 years old. Our family always believed he was murdered. His brother, J. Ray Blansett passed away about a year later.
by, Great Grandson, J Farris
Children:
Vernon Cladious Blansett (1933-1982)
Janet Borowski
Siblings:
James Paul Blansett (1931-2007)
Jesse Ray Blansett (1923-1946)
Docia "Dee" Finley Blansett (1921-1922)
John Darrell Blansett (1919-1969)
Boots (Otis Junior) Blansett (1917-1974)
Maryann Hope (Blansett) Burns (1914-2004), wife of Walter Burns.
Grandparents:
Joseph Blansett (1847-1899) and Mary Ann (Riddle) Blansett (1857-1898)
John Wesley Finley (1855-1912) and Mollissia Ann (Clayton) Finley(1868-1950)
by, Great Grandson, J Farris
Children:
Vernon Cladious Blansett (1933-1982)
Janet Borowski
Siblings:
James Paul Blansett (1931-2007)
Jesse Ray Blansett (1923-1946)
Docia "Dee" Finley Blansett (1921-1922)
John Darrell Blansett (1919-1969)
Boots (Otis Junior) Blansett (1917-1974)
Maryann Hope (Blansett) Burns (1914-2004), wife of Walter Burns.
Grandparents:
Joseph Blansett (1847-1899) and Mary Ann (Riddle) Blansett (1857-1898)
John Wesley Finley (1855-1912) and Mollissia Ann (Clayton) Finley(1868-1950)
Ralph Blansett was born June 23, 1913 in Arkansas to parents Steve Blansett (1889-1976) and Theodocia "Docia" Ernest (Finley) Blansett (1890-1984). Until age 17 he lived first in O'kean, Randolph Co, Arkansas and then in Willis, Poinsett Co, Arkansas. In 1931, at age 18, Ralph married Alta Mae (Stevens) Blansett (1915-1988). They had two children. One boy, Vernon Cladius Blansett (1933-1982) and one girl, Janet Blansett (Living). In the early 1940's, Ralph and his family lived for a while in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Early in 1945 they moved back to Arkansas. On July 16, 1945, Ralph, one of his brothers, J. Ray Blansett, and a man named Walter Haney had gone out for a late night of cards and drinking. Ralph, who won a large sum of money and was extremely intoxicated, had fallen asleep in the back seat of his brother's car in the early hours of the morning on the ride home. On the way the men had some engine trouble (overheating) and had to pull over to add water and let the car cool off before returning home. The following morning, July 17, 1945, Ray Blansett, who was also extremely intoxicated the previous night, had no memory of how he had returned home. The car that Ralph had fallen asleep in was found by a boy from the area, Ernest Lee French, near a garage owned by Walter Haney burned beyond recognition. It had burned during the night. Ralph was found deceased, still in the back seat. No trace of the money was ever found. He was 32 years old. Our family always believed he was murdered. His brother, J. Ray Blansett passed away about a year later.
by, Great Grandson, J Farris
Children:
Vernon Cladious Blansett (1933-1982)
Janet Borowski
Siblings:
James Paul Blansett (1931-2007)
Jesse Ray Blansett (1923-1946)
Docia "Dee" Finley Blansett (1921-1922)
John Darrell Blansett (1919-1969)
Boots (Otis Junior) Blansett (1917-1974)
Maryann Hope (Blansett) Burns (1914-2004), wife of Walter Burns.
Grandparents:
Joseph Blansett (1847-1899) and Mary Ann (Riddle) Blansett (1857-1898)
John Wesley Finley (1855-1912) and Mollissia Ann (Clayton) Finley(1868-1950)
by, Great Grandson, J Farris
Children:
Vernon Cladious Blansett (1933-1982)
Janet Borowski
Siblings:
James Paul Blansett (1931-2007)
Jesse Ray Blansett (1923-1946)
Docia "Dee" Finley Blansett (1921-1922)
John Darrell Blansett (1919-1969)
Boots (Otis Junior) Blansett (1917-1974)
Maryann Hope (Blansett) Burns (1914-2004), wife of Walter Burns.
Grandparents:
Joseph Blansett (1847-1899) and Mary Ann (Riddle) Blansett (1857-1898)
John Wesley Finley (1855-1912) and Mollissia Ann (Clayton) Finley(1868-1950)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
