“The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals…but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children’s children. It is unto us that the lives of the grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future.”
Billy Dean Blanton Sr., also known as Billy Whiskers but most affectionately as Poppy to his grandchildren and Pop-Pop to youngest, Claire.
He was 67 years old and made his life in Canton. He passed away in Dallas on Dec. 11, 2017 surrounded by his wife and children. He was born on July 7, 1950 to Wiley F. Blanton and Dorothy A. Burdette. Due to his own father’s untimely death, as an infant, he was raised by his “Daddy” Lawrence A. Young with siblings Lavada, Pete, Gus and Larry and Wiley.
He leaves his memory with his beloved family: wife, Laurie; son, Brock Blanton and wife, Bree; daughter, Yael Blanton Rackley and husband, Neil; son, Billy Blanton Jr. and wife, Jessica; son, Wiley Blanton and wife, Kayla; and son, Emerson Brooks Blanton; and his grandchildren who will always be his greatest achievement, Zeb, Dean, Kailey, Ella, Emerson, Auree, Gabby, Harper and “Baby Girl” Claire.
He worked construction and paint/body work. Anyone fortunate enough to know him could find him at the Lewis Auto Swap several times a year – in the same spots, 4427 and 4428. He loved old cars and Harleys. This was his “art” and a lot of his work can be seen locally at Yesterland Farms.
A Celebration of Life will be held Jan. 6, 2018, in Canton with family and friends.