1939
Shirley
2009
Shirley Swart Blessing
December 7, 1939 — December 7, 2009
Shirley Gene Swart Blessing, 70, passed away December 7, 2009 at home following a short battle with cancer. The family requests that memorials be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.
Memorial service: 3:00 p.m. Friday at Everman United Methodist Church in Everman where she had been a member since 1974.
Gene was born October 7, 1939 in Littlefield, Texas to Amos and Elsie Swart. On May 23, 1958, she graduated from Littlefield High School and two days later married the love of her life, John Edd "Jedd" Blessing. He preceded her in death on October 17, 2005.
Gene attended Texas Tech University and was a commercial artist, as well as a commissioned mixed media artist. She worked extensively in various areas of publishing, following a pattern that began at age 15 when she joined the annual staff at Littlefield High School. In 1980, she formed B&B Publishing Inc., which published four weekly newspapers, the Everman Times, the Kennedale News, the Forest Hill News, and the South County News, in the Fort Worth area. The company soon added a printing plant, which printed several other area publications. She was honored with two Resolutions from the State of Texas House of Representatives during her tenure as a publisher. After retirement in 1999, Gene enjoyed traveling with her husband Jedd and playing with her great-grandchildren, but also remained active in church and community events as long as her health allowed.
Gene is survived by a son, William Blessing and his wife Michelle of Tye, Texas; a daughter, Jedda Blessing of Fort Worth, Texas; a brother-in-law, Pat Blessing and his wife Donna of Hobbs, New Mexico; a sister-in-law, Ray Lynn Britt and her husband Roger of Lubbock, Texas; five grandchildren, Darra, Justin, Alex, Aaron, and Tony; four great-grandchildren, Angie, Xander, Jade, and Damian; three nieces; three nephews, numerous cousins and extended family members, Pam Blessing and Tom Dolan.
Memorial service: 3:00 p.m. Friday at Everman United Methodist Church in Everman where she had been a member since 1974.
Gene was born October 7, 1939 in Littlefield, Texas to Amos and Elsie Swart. On May 23, 1958, she graduated from Littlefield High School and two days later married the love of her life, John Edd "Jedd" Blessing. He preceded her in death on October 17, 2005.
Gene attended Texas Tech University and was a commercial artist, as well as a commissioned mixed media artist. She worked extensively in various areas of publishing, following a pattern that began at age 15 when she joined the annual staff at Littlefield High School. In 1980, she formed B&B Publishing Inc., which published four weekly newspapers, the Everman Times, the Kennedale News, the Forest Hill News, and the South County News, in the Fort Worth area. The company soon added a printing plant, which printed several other area publications. She was honored with two Resolutions from the State of Texas House of Representatives during her tenure as a publisher. After retirement in 1999, Gene enjoyed traveling with her husband Jedd and playing with her great-grandchildren, but also remained active in church and community events as long as her health allowed.
Gene is survived by a son, William Blessing and his wife Michelle of Tye, Texas; a daughter, Jedda Blessing of Fort Worth, Texas; a brother-in-law, Pat Blessing and his wife Donna of Hobbs, New Mexico; a sister-in-law, Ray Lynn Britt and her husband Roger of Lubbock, Texas; five grandchildren, Darra, Justin, Alex, Aaron, and Tony; four great-grandchildren, Angie, Xander, Jade, and Damian; three nieces; three nephews, numerous cousins and extended family members, Pam Blessing and Tom Dolan.
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