A memorial service for Bob Blackman, 90, of Hallsville, Texas will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 22, 2022, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home.

On Friday, September 30, 2022, Bobby Dean Blackman, loving husband and father, passed peacefully in his sleep at the age of 90.

Bob was born on February 15, 1932 in Crossett, Arkansas to the late Charles and Grace Doss Blackman DeJean.

He attended Bird High School in Shreveport, Louisiana until he joined the Navy in 1948. While serving as a torpedo launcher on the USS Taussig submarine during the Korean War, he suffered from a knee injury which ended his military career after a short three year stint. Bob returned to civilian life and attended Centenary College and played Minor League baseball as a pitcher in Shreveport, Louisiana. After leaving the fast paced lifestyle of minor league baseball, he owned and operated many types of businesses including a finance company, a mobile home dealership, and worked as a pump operator for H.E. Sutton, as a security guard at Canton Trade Days, and also helped in the porcelain doll business that his wife, Jean, owned.

In 1974, Bob married Jeanna Faye Wise Alexander in DeBerry, Texas at the Methodist Church and together they raised Jamie and Anna. When first moving to Elysian Fields, Bob and Jean owned and operated the Panola Cafe and Shape Up Beauty Salon. Bob then ventured into the East Texas oil fields by working as a pumper for H.E. Sutton. While his early morning hours were spent driving down backroads checking pumps in the oilfield, his afternoons were spent getting his boat ready for a quick trip.

Bob was an avid fisherman and would spend his free time trolling up and down the Sabine River, searching for a new hotspot to snag some fish with his buddy Ray "Kingfisherman" Hardy. Not only was he a great fisherman, but he could also fry up a delicious batch of fish, homemade hushpuppies, and hand cut fries. Bob earned the nickname of "Big Bad Bob" (also his CB handle) at the Tiller Deer Camp but kept the nickname because while frying up fish for family gatherings, everyone would sneak up and snatch a piece of fish to which Bob would glare at them for a quick second and then break out into a grin and tell one of his silly jokes. He was serious about his fish frying but would sternly state he could fry fish all day and never have enough to go around because everyone always just wanted to taste a little piece.

Bob wore many hats throughout his lifetime but the one he wore proudest was Pepa. He loved his grandchildren. He would drive 30 miles to take them to McDonald's for lunch at school or bring them donut holes for breakfast. He's made trips across the state of Texas to watch them play baseball and play in Band and Orchestra concerts. The grandkids loved spending time at Mema and Pepa's house. Pepa would let them pile up in bed with him or make a palace in the living room. They would stay up and watch cartoons and movies all while Pepa waited on them hand and foot. If you were to ask any one of the grandkids what their favorite thing to do was—they would all reply with go see Pepa. He spoiled them all, loved them all, and enjoyed watching them grow into the young adults they have become. Amongst the grandkids, Pepa was known for calling them up and talking silly and telling corny jokes on the phone with them when they were young. Even as they grew older, Pepa would still call them up and talk silly and tell his corny jokes. They enjoyed receiving those phone calls as much as he enjoyed making them. The running joke in the family was if there was dessert, you better get some immediately because by morning, Pepa would have eaten it all. He was a man that definitely loved his sweets…almost as much as he loved his family.

Bob is survived by his wife, Jean, son and daughter in law-Jamie and Donna Alexander of Abilene, daughter-Anna Alexander of Lake Lewisville, Grandchildren- Kristina Durham of Lewisville, Jarad and Dariene Alexander of Abilene, Victoria Lee of Phoenix Arizona, Payton, Connor and Duncan Alexander of Abilene, six Great Grandchildren, all the Wise girls and Trey along with their spouses, numerous nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.