MARVIN MAYNARD BLACKWOOD

Marvin Maynard Blackwood, 98, of Knox City, Missouri died March 16, 2023, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois.  

He was born June 14, 1924, the son of Marvin Hugh and Bertha Cleveland Blackwood.

Maynard attended elementary schools in Kansas City except for one year spent in the fourth grade in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Manual High Vocational School in Kansas City in 1942.

He worked 14 months as an apprentice in a sheet metal shop before entering the Army in February 1943. He served in the European Theatre during W.W.11 and was awarded 5 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and French Croix De Guerre with Palm after his discharge in December 1945.

Maynard was united in marriage to Eleanore Rowe on August 21, 1949, and to this union three children were born.

Maynard graduated from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma with a BA in History and Sociology in 1950. He engaged in Post Graduate studies at George Williams College in Chicago, Illinois; California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks, California and Missouri School of Religion in Jefferson City, Missouri.

He worked 31 years with the YMCA, serving Chicago, Illinois; Waco, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Kirksville, Missouri. He also ran the Skyline Ranch out of El Paso, TX, and Pine Valley out of Ventura, Calif. A highlight in his YMCA career occurred in August 1954, a full page of Maynard, in Life Magazine, along with other photo scenes from a day’s activities at YMCA Camp Classen.

Maynard interrupted his YMCA service in 1970 to explore life as a Census taker. After completing his role as an enumerator, he was employed to teach 5th grade in Briggs Elementary School in Santa Paula, California. After teaching two years, he resumed his YMCA career in Kirksville, Missouri.

In 1980, he terminated his service with the YMCA to enter full-time Ministry, serving Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ, in Williamstown, Missouri, LaBelle, Missouri and Center, Missouri. After a brief retirement in 1989, he returned to the Ministry serving as Pastor of the Methodist/Presbyterian Church in LaBelle and the Community Church in Baring, Missouri. During his ministry, Maynard provided occasional Pulpit Supply in many churches in Missouri including Kirksville, Canton, Holliday, Paris, Rutledge, Madison, Moberly, Lewistown, Gorin, Palmyra, Emerson, Wyaconda, Perry, Frankford, Peaksville, Huntsville, Knox City, Edina, and Kahoka.

Maynard married Helen B. Thomas on July 26, 1981, at the First Christian Church in Kirksville, with Rev. Dewayne Wellborn officiating.
Some of Maynard’s hobbies included stamp and coin collecting, repairing and refinishing antique furniture and doll collecting. He also studied magic as a member of the Society of American Magicians in the Kansas City and Oklahoma City Assemblies. He enjoyed traveling. He accompanied the Mark Twain International Chorale on exciting travels to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in 2007 and to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary in 2009, to England, Scotland, and Wales in 2011 and Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2014.

For many years he participated in Josephine’s Sunshine Band and the Senior Stars Band, playing in Nursing Homes in Scotland, Lewis, and Knox Counties. Both bands, at times, played at the LaBelle Harvest Festivals.

As a participant in community activities, Maynard served as a Board Member on the Senior Citizens Board while he was Pastoring in LaBelle. He was active with the Knox County Ministerial Alliance as a representative from Edina First Christian Church. He volunteered several years with the Knox County Food Cupboard, served as Vice President of the Knox County Food Pantry, and served as Secretary to the Knox County Agency on Aging Nutrition Board. He became a member of the Knox County Historical Society and assisted in moving the Historical Museum from the Court House to the Kelly House. He wrote two Journals, for many of his relatives and friends, “Eighty Years of Rambling” and “One of the Days”. He also compiled a book containing copies of letters he had written home during his service in the Army.

Maynard is survived by a son, Mark Blackwood of Eureka, Calif., two daughters, Karen Selander of Ventura, Calif., and Deana Blackwood of Santa Barbara, Calif along with a brother-in-law, Gene Gastl of Shawnee, Kan., two stepchildren; D Clark Thomas and his wife, Donna of Columbia. Beverly Hamilton of Canton, Mo., and stepson-in-law, Larry Easterday of O’Fallon, Mo. Seven step-grandchildren Glenda Easterday, David Easterday and wife Theresa; Steven Easterday, Robyn Horner and her husband Bob, Kelly Focht and her husband Ric, Traci Thomas, and Tammy Baumgartner and her husband Michael. Eleven step-great-grandchildren: Jacob Easterday and his wife Haley, Timothy Easterday and his wife Kaci, Grace Easterday, Hannah Easterday, Justin Easterday, Blake Easterday, Dylan Seamon, Alyssa Neilson and her husband Travis, Lyndsey Hung and her husband Tom, Addison Baumgartner and Corwin Baumgartner. Nieces and nephews, Kathy Schofield, Kraig Kensinger, Keith Kensinger, Kevin Kensinger, Karen Finkbinder, Kelly Kensinger and Karla True along with numerous cousins and step-great-great-grandchildren.

Maynard is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Bertha; his wife Eleanore; his wife Helen; one sister, Dorothy Arline Gastl, a brother, Pady Blackwood, a son-in-law, Mark Selander, a stepdaughter Sharon Easterday, and stepson-in-law, Jerry Hamilton.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Doss Funeral Home at a later date.
An expression of sympathy in memory of Maynard Blackwood may be left to the Knox County Nutrition Site. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Doss Funeral Home 208 N. 4th Street, Edina, Missouri 63537.