John Raymond Blackham

John Raymond Blackham, 78, of Manti, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024 in Mt Pleasant, Utah, surrounded by his family. John was born October 28, 1945 in Manti, Utah, at the home he grew up in. Son of Paul Emerald and Jacquelyn Shand Blackham. He was a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He graduated from Manti High School in 1963. During that time he enlisted in the Utah National Guard and went to basic training one week after graduation. Upon returning home he attended Snow College and later Utah Trade Technical College in Salt Lake City, graduating with a degree in diesel mechanics.

 John married Janice “Darlene” Frandsen of Mt Pleasant, Utah on January 20, 1968. He lived in Manti his entire life and was blessed with three children. He took a construction job with Cox Brothers and later went into the turkey business with his father. After his father retired he soon changed his occupation to work for the Energy West Mining Company, where he retired after 30 years of service. He also retired from the National Guard with over 20 years of service, which he was very proud to have served his country.

 Some favorite highlights of his life was coaching his son Bill’s little league baseball team, chopping wood in the mountains of Manti, attending the annual deer hunt camp, planting his little garden of tomatoes and peppers to make his special recipe that he received from a friend at the coal mine, and most of all cruises with his family. He had a gift for storytelling, jokes, and was very quick witted, he also loved to read and was very well versed on most any subject and could have done very well on the t.v. show “Jeopardy”, which was one of his favorite shows to watch.

 After retirement, he took a job as the crossing guard for Manti Elementary School and loved working with the many children he met. In the summer he had the job of watering the beautiful potted flowers for the city along main street. He also worked with the Scouting program which he dearly loved and kept a strong bond with some of the scouts he had worked with. The last few years as his health and eyesight declined he developed an interest in watching YouTube videos on his computer.

 John is survived by his wife, Darlene and their children: Angie (Bart), Bill, and Janice; grandchildren: Kalisa, Hannah, Dylan, Kayelie, Kayden, Jade, and Hixon; great-grandchildren: Addisyn and Hendrix, as well as many bonus grandchildren, nieces and nephews; sister, Linda (Jerry) Coyle and brother-in-law, Jack Cox. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Paul William Blackham and sister, Jeannie Cox.

 Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in the Manti Stake Center, 555 East Union Street. A viewing will be held prior to services from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Manti City Cemetery with Military Honors by the Manti American Legion Post #31 and the Utah Honor Guard. Online guestbook and live streaming of the services available at www.maglebymortuary.com under John’s obituary. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti

Live streaming can be found by scrolling below the obituary