Terry Lee Blackburn passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, after a long battle with multi-infarct dementia.
He was born on Sept. 2, 1948, to Eldon and Dorothy (Towles) Blackburn in Parsons.
Survivors include his wife, Pamala (Sawyer) Blackburn of the home; a daughter, Cassandra (Blackburn) and Bobby Hamilton of Parsons; a stepdaughter, Kristin (Marquardt) and Travis Rossman of Parsons; a stepson, Jon Marquardt of Parsons; a brother, Michael (Sherrie) Blackburn of Parsons; two sistersin- law, Janette (Timothy) Grillot of Parsons and Linda Sawyer of Derby; his mother-in-law, Dorothy (Johnny) Wetzstein; 12 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Pad Blackburn; a daughter, Teresa Gharst; grandsons, Keith Mc-Clenning and Jacob Blackburn; a brother-in-law, Richard Sawyer; and his father-in-law, Jerald R. Sawyer.
Terry married Pamala (Sawyer) in 1982. He married Billie Dawson. They later divorced. He married Sharol Cloke. They later divorced.
He grew up in Parsons and attended Washington Elementary School, West Junior High School and Parsons High School, graduating in 1966.
After high school, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as a seaman E3 and was honorably discharged Aug. 9, 1969.
He attended Labette Community Junior College. He received a degree in electronics from Pittsburg State University. In 1992, he received a bachelor of science in philosophy from the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
As a teenager, he formed and played the drums and sang in many local bands. He received state recognition with the band, The Sensational Showman, when they were inducted into the Kansas Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
He toured with his good friends Randy Brown, Joe Horton and Mike Fitzmorris in the Second Chance Band throughout the Midwest and into Canada.
Terry was known as the voice of KLKC Radio in Parsons from 1973 until 2005. In 2015, Terry started back at KLKC as an air talent D.J. and hosted “Trading Post” and “Doctor On Call” with Terry Rothstein, M.D. The program received an honorable mention by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 2020.
One of the first discos in this area was hosted by Terry at the Midnight Factory north of Parsons.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Parsons. The family celebrated Terry’s life and memories on Sept. 7. The family suggests memorials to PALS at https://www. palsshelter.com/donate. Terry was a very avid lover of cats.
