(From Clark Funeral Home)Dee Ray Blackwell, 70, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on March 26, 2025. Born in Ketchikan, Alaska, on May 29, 1954, to Hershel and Miltred (Tillman) Blackwell, Dee Ray always considered the rugged landscapes of Alaska his true home.
He spent his early years in Anchorage before relocating to Missouri with his family in October 1966. Growing up on a farm outside of Stella, Dee Ray graduated from East Newton High School in 1972. Shortly after, he returned to Alaska and enlisted in the United States Army, proudly serving from 1973 to 1976 while stationed in Germany.
After his military service, Dee Ray returned to Alaska before settling back in Missouri, where he built a successful career as an over-the-road truck driver. Despite making Missouri his home, his heart always belonged to Alaska and its vast, untamed beauty.
Dee Ray was preceded in death by his parents and his half-sister, Nadine Lee of Phoenix, Arizona. He is survived by his sister, Sabra Coyle and her husband Jack; niece Karen Daugherty; nephew Brian Daugherty; great-niece Makayla Bailey and her husband Mason; great-nephew Dakota Grice; and great-great-nieces Kai and Ava Bailey, as well as great-great-nephew Tucker Bailey.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the dedicated staff at National Health Care and the compassionate team at Compassus Hospice for the exceptional care they provided to Dee Ray in his final days.
Dee Ray will be remembered for his love of the open road, his deep connection to the Alaskan wilderness, and his quiet strength and resilience. A Memorial visitation will be held on April 8, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Clark Funeral Home - Chapel of Memories. His cremains will be placed at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.
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