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Established 1948    G.W. "Woody" Blanton 8 August 1912 - 27 September 1975  Sherman Democrat September 29, 1975 pg. 1 TOP STATE LAW OFFICERS TO ATTEND BLANTON RITES Co. Wilson Speir, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, was expected Monday afternoon to be among a statewide contigent of law enforcement officers attending the funeral of Grayson County Sheriff Woody Blanton. Blanton died early Saturday at a Sherman hospital. He was 63. The Sheriff's office said U.S. Marshall J.Keith Gary of Tyler, Texas Ranger Capt. G.W. Burk, and Dallas County Sheriff Clarence Jones also relayed messages that they would try to attemd. Teletype message from throughout the state were being received Monday morning. Funeral services originally scheduled for 4 p.m. from the Johnson-Moore Funeral Chapel in Denison were moved down the street to the First Baptist Church after the indications that the chapel could not hold the expected crowds. A spokesman at the funeral home Monday morning said approximately 650 guests had visited the funeral home since Monday morning. We've ordered pages (to the register) until it's unreal." she said. "People have come from everywhere." The county courthouse was closed at 3 p.m. so employees could attend the services. The Sherman City Council cancelled its Monday afternoon meeting and rescheduled it for Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. Plans were being made Monday for police officers from Sherman and Denison to attend the funeral with their police chiefs, Johnny Burleson and E.E. Eubank, in groups. Other officers from police agencies in the area were expected to attend. Military graveside rites were scheduled to follow the funeral service. Blanton was to be buried in a family plot at Cedarlawn Memorial Park. Blanton elected Sheriff in 1958 and chosen outstanding sheriff in the state 6 years later for counties the size of Grayson, served for a quarter of a century until his death. He had been hospitalized a week ago Sunday for irregularities in his heart beat. Pallbearers include Texas Ranger Louis Rigler of Gainesville, Chief Deputy Sheriff Shelby Bowling, acting Sheriff in Blanton's place, Bill Dugger, Dick Bishop, Kirk May, and John Blystone, all of Sherman; and H.C. Ross of Denison.   Lawmen ~ Sheriffs Cedarlawn Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |