Jay Blankenship

JAY BLANKENSHIP, JR. WEAVERVILLE - Jay Blankenship, Jr., age 71, of Weaverville died Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Mr. Blankenship was born March 28, 1944 in Buncombe County where he had lived most of his life. His career was in retail sales for most of his life and he was an owner of an Insurance Agency and involved in Law Enforcement. He served with the 365th Cobra Strike Unit in Vietnam and was a lead singer with gospel groups like the Silvertones, Songman, Seekers and as well as with his family and others. He is a son of Rev. Jay Merritt Blankenship, Sr. and the late Velma Reed Blankenship. Surviving in addition to his father is his wife, Janis Cole Blankenship; daughter, Lisa Rickards of Philadelphia, PA; stepsons, Rory McDaris and wife Reba of Leicester, and Randall McDaris of Weaverville; sisters, Marlena Miller and husband Charlie of Flat Rock, NC, Sharon Roberts and Von Payne of Candler; adopted sister, Angela Rogers and husband Tommy of Mosheim, TN; brother, Roger Blankenship and wife Brenda of VA; grandchildren, McKenzie, Kayleb, Kaitlyn, Dennis, J.J., and Grace; and several nieces and nephews. His funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, November 7, 2015, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with Pastor Ronnie Pittman officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the residence. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Glory Tabernacle, 1221 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28803. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mr. Blankenship's obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com. His funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, November 7, 2015, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with Pastor Ronnie Pittman officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the residence. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Glory Tabernacle, 1221 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28803. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mr. Blankenship’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.