Oletha Blackwell

Oletha B. "Nall" Parks Blackwell, age 86 of Joplin, passed away at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at Spring River Christian Village, Missouri. Born June 22, 1924 in Granbury, Tex., she was the daughter of the late James H. Nall and Thelma B. Israel Nall. In 2000, she and her husband moved to Joplin from Mineral Wells, TX. to be close to her daughter and son-in-law. For 23 years, she was a bank employee in Mineral Wells and Arlington, TX. She also was vice president of QHS, Inc. Quality Health Services in Arlington and worked for Southwestern Bell in Mineral Wells. She was a member of Southside Church of Christ congregation, where she was very involved as the wife of the Deacon in charge of Senior Activities, the Visitation Program, teaching classes for many years, serving as African ministry teacher and many other church activities. She later served in the Joplin Welcome Club. In May of 1943 she married Stanley Parks. He preceded her in death in April of 1974. On January 11, 1980 she married Herman Elmer Blackwell at Mineral Wells. He survives. Additional survivors include her daughter, Brenda J. (Parks) Barentine and husband Roger of Webb City, Mo.; three grandchildren, Staci J. Bogle and husband Brian of Edmond, Okla., Renate S. Michael and husband Anthony of Bossier City, La., Brett A. Barentine of Las Colinas, Tex.; three great-grandchildren, Blake and Tenley Bogle of Edmond, Landrie Michael of Bossier City; a sister, Marzell Roulston of Ft. Worth, Tex.; two brothers, Alfred Nall and wife Betty of Sapulpa, Okla., Jack Nall and wife Darlene of Tulsa, Okla. Graveside services will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells under the direction of Baum Carlock Bumgardner Funeral Home with William Eudy, minister officiating. Visitation will be 10 AM to Noon Friday prior to the graveside services. Memorial contributions may be made to Spring River Christian Village.