Agnes Marie Blalock

Agnes Marie Blalock of Groesbeck, went home to be with the Lord, passing away at Providence Hospice Place in Waco, on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at age 83. Visitation will be Friday, May 6, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the First Baptist Church in Groesbeck, with Dr. Tod Tanner officiating. Music will be provided by Brian and Laura Boecker and Robert McDougal. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Randy Behringer, Mike McBay, Kim Harris, Eddie Armstrong, Bill Pitt, and Mitchell Kronwinkler. Agnes was born November 9, 1932 to Walter Hampton Gantt and Emma (Walker) Gantt at their home in the rural area of Limestone County near Farrar. She graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1950. Agnes met a young man from Buffalo named Lester Blalock on a blind date. She and Lester were united in marriage a few months later, on August 5, 1950, at the First Baptist Parsonage in Groesbeck. They made their home in the Tiger Prairie community (near Farrar) for a number of years, until moving to the current home outside Groesbeck in 1962. Agnes worked some years in the Groesbeck school cafeteria and also had worked some time at Schultz Pharmacy; however, her greatest profession was as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She was also a devoted member of the Bethel Baptist Church and was the pianist there for many years, as well as a Sunday school teacher and VBS teacher, and deacon’s wife. She picked up many children and took them to Sunday school classes and church. In later years, she and Lester have been members of the First Baptist Church, where she continued to love and encourage the young people, always ready to furnish dozens of cookies for any occasion. In the past, she and Lester raised a Jersey cow and chickens specifically to teach the grandchildren about their past farm life. She delighted her Sunday school class taking them homemade bread and butter she had churned. Agnes loved to cook, and share recipes with family and friends. Pies and desserts were specialties, but she also spent many summer hours making jelly, pickles, and canning produce from Lester’s garden. She continued to enjoy cooking for Lester and even last week on the way to the doctor’s appointment she was telling family of her latest new recipe. Mrs. Blalock was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Cathy Lou Blalock; two brothers, Archie Gantt and Raymond Gantt and sister-in-law, Wanda Gantt; sister, Elsie Hall and brother-in-law, Leslie C. Hall. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Lester Blalock; daughter, Gail Salinas of Groesbeck; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Diane Blalock of Gig Harbor, WA; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Gary Lancaster of Fairfield; grandchildren: Jeremy McMillan of Waco, Stephen M. Blalock of New York City, N.Y., Sarah and husband Lance Turner of Waco, Andrew Blalock of Chandler, AZ., Hannah McMillan of Waco; great grandchildren, Maci McMillan of Waco and Asher Turner of Waco; sister-in-law, Marceline Gantt of Lake Jackson; and nieces and nephews.