Ila Jane Blacklock

On the 23rd day of February, 2016 Ila Jane Hardy Blacklock was surrounded by “God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.” (Phillipians 4:7) She was born on December 25, 1931 to Ida Belle (Glover) Hardy and Tom K. Hardy. She married her angel, Gayle Dean Blacklock, on April 3, 1953 in Ranger, Texas.

Jane was preceded in death by her dear Granny, Olivia Jane Glover, her parents, an infant son, Michael, and her brothers and sister, Dorothy Hardy Creel, Dr. T.K. Hardy, Jr., Kenneth Hardy.

Jane was a creative and giving soul. She shared her knowledge of cooking, sewing, quilting and nature with anyone who had the patience to learn. If you ever played a game of cards with her, you knew her fiercely competitive nature (don’t tell Gayle she occasionally let him win at a game of Skip Bo to ease his ego). Jane could have written for the American Pickers show and her remaining treasures are a testament. In a recent conversation, she said, “What’s the use of having it, if you can’t look at it?”

Jane’s children were the center of her universe. Her first born, Dan, inherited her creative skills and imagination. Her daughter, Jan, has the benefit of her ability to talk herself out of a box. Jon, her youngest, could do no wrong (except when she wasn’t looking); when he became school age, she decided to become a substitute teacher so she could always keep tabs.

Before her stroke, she and Gayle travelled extensively, but always for purpose of reconnecting with family and friends. Many will miss her sweet smile, but mostly her husband, Gayle, sons G. Dan Blacklock of Eastland and Jon D. Blacklock (Ann) of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and daughter, Jan Blacklock Matthews (Bob) of Lubbock. She loved her grandchildren, Jon David Blacklock, Benjamin Blacklock, Devan Blacklock Schafer, Elise Matthews and Eric Matthews; she was also blessed with one great granddaughter, Layla Matthews. She knew many angels, but left this life under the care of her newest friend, Phyllis Battle and Gentiva Hospice. Her dog, Sam, will miss hiding with her during thunderstorms.

Services will be held at the Edwards Funeral Home chapel in Ranger at 1:00pm Saturday, February 27, 2016, interment immediately following at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger. Visitation with family will be Friday from 6:00pm-8:00pm. To honor her giving spirit, the family asks that unexpected and unsolicited donations be made in her name to someone less fortunate.