Tommie "Joe" Blassingame passed away peacefully on November 18, 2018 in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents Tommie and Pearl Blassingame. Joe has one brother Charles Blassingame of Quanah, Texas; one nephew Kevin Blassingame of Wichita Falls,Texas; and two nieces Jenifer Blassingame of Quanah, Texas and Cynthia Tucker of White Oak, Texas.

Joe was born on May 23 ^rd 1942 in San Fernando, New Mexico. Soon after his birth they moved to Quanah where he would be reared along with eight years his junior brother Charles. He attended the Outreach Service Center for many years where his mother Pearl did volunteer work on a regular basis. There, Joe made a multitude of friends over his lifetime. He enjoyed competing with his friends at the Special Olympics each year. He loved to dance to Dick Clark's American Bandstand and sing gospel hymns his mother played the radio. He loved to laugh, and would laugh longer and harder if he made you laugh. His since of humor was pure and innocent and so many adored him for that. Joe enjoyed sitting in his swing while his dogs would lie next to him. He adored standing next to his dad Tommie as he tended their vegetable garden; and he liked helping him in the back yard by picking apples, pears and pecans. Joe also looked forward to walking to his favorite neighbors Faye and R.C. Hope to deliver their paper each week. He was known and esteemed by all kids and adults alike around the neighborhood because of his child-like personality. If he knew you as his friend, then he regarded you as his "first friend" and he treated you as such with a kiss on the cheek; but if your name was (Joe) then you were more special because you had "his"name! But, there was none more special to Joe than his little brother Charles. Charles would become the first and the most influential person in Joe's life as it was prayed for by their parents. As many know, Joe was born with Intellectual Development Disability (IDD) due to traumatic brain injury at birth. He was never expected to walk or develop in sort of activities of daily living. It was upon his little brother Charles's arrival that Joe would discover his true "first friend" that he could relate to. As Charles grew and become able to make his needs known, Joe imitated and learned as well; as Charles learned to walk, Joe finally soon followed. When his little brother was older and married he remained close to his parents and his big brother Joe. Like any grandparents Tommie and Pearl delighted in having their grandkids over daily after school and Joe especially looked forward to their visit. For Joe that meant his brother along with his father would soon be home. As the grandkids came in and acknowledge Joe, he would remind them by saying: "my brother Charles and my daddy get off at 3:30 and will be here at 4"! Joe was proud of his nieces and nephew because he regarded them as "my brother's kids." While the grandkids grew up around him, it would be Joe who demonstrated to the kids how to pick pecans, collect and crush cans, and enjoy evening sits in the swing.

Joeboy, as most knew and called him by, taught without trying to teach. He did not discriminate, he had no prejudices; and he knew of no racism. His parents taught him first to love Jesus, and he did. Joeboy loved to sing the lord's hymns and preach along with the pastor as he and his mother and father would watch and listened to the Baptist Church on the television every week.

One day, while listening to church, their grandkids were visiting. As they sat on the couch and observed how much they were enjoying the sermon Kevin asked, "Mema, why don't ya'll just go to church?" Pearl replied, because Joe would want to preach more and louder than the preacher! As they all laughed, Pearl and Tommie recalled to their grandkids of a story that happened during their son Charles's wedding. Joe had not seen his parents dressed so formal before. Pearl along with her silky white dress had dawned pair long white gloves. She thought for strategic purposes of keeping Joe to a whisper, that she would sit behind him as Tommie would sit next to him. The preacher, who was familiar with Joe, was determined to stay focused on the nuptials at hand while Pearl would gently tap Joe's shoulder and remind him in his ear to keep quite! But now, it was time for Charles's promise by saying I do. As Charles spoke up Joe replied loudly "You asked for it o'l boy!" To which no one could hold back the genuine laughter! Tommie explained to the grandkids that after the ceremony he was standing with his arm around Joe and said to Joe, "Joe you could not be quite!" To which Joe replied, this old lady sitting behind me with gloves on kept telling me to shut up…but I wouldn't do it!

Joe-boy has shown so many what the lord requires from all of us- To love the Lord with all of our hearts,; love our neighbors; and to always give and not expect anything in return. Joe-boy we love you and will miss you until we see you again!