Gary Blankenship

Gary Basil Blankenship of North Little Rock, AR 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, Kansas.  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, North Carolina, Gary and Barbra Russell of Pearl, Mississippi and Andrea (Russell) and Wesley Griner of Nashville, Georgia, his daughter-in-law Rhonda Warren, and his brother Greg and Denise Blankenship of Jacksonville, Arkansas.  He also leaves behind grandchildren: Lennon, Cassidy, Abigail, Mackenzie, Ella, Lanie, 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.

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170 .