GARY BASIL BLANKENSHIP,

of North Little Rock, Ark., passed away on February 4, 2021, after a brief battle with COVID-19. He was 77. Gary was born to Basil and Trena Blankenship on September 9, 1943, in Kansas City, Kan. He graduated from Tooele High School in Tooele, Utah. He also received a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Gary is survived by his children, Rachael (Blankenship) and Craig Rossiter of Sydney, Australia, Nicole (Blankenship) Thomas of Wilmington, N.C., Gary and Barbra Russell of Pearl, Miss., and Andrea (Russell) and Wesley Griner of Nashville, Ga., and his brother, Greg and Denise Blankenship of Jacksonville, Ark. He also leaves behind grandchildren: Lennon, Cassidy, Abigail, Mackenzie, Ella, Aullie, Peri, Cooper, Elijah, Layne, Nikki, Ryan, Danny, Sydney, Sedona, Jessica, and Bo and his nephews, Russell Blankenship, Shawn and Cathy Blankenship and John and Jessica Blankenship. Gary is preceded in death by his parents Basil and Trena Blankenship, his sister, Ingrid Blankenship, his daughter, Rahni (Russell) Meece and his son, Garrett Blankenship.

One of his biggest honours in life was to proudly serve as a Naval Intelligence Seaman from October 4, 1963, to October 12, 1967. Gary served in Vietnam from January 1, 1964, to January 1, 1965. The patriotism he learned in the Navy never left him, as friends and family will attest. The love for his country was only surpassed by the love for his family and his 17 grandchildren. There will be a private memorial service for Gary in the coming weeks. Guestbook at: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.