In loving memory and the home going of the beautiful soul of John “Mickey” Blalark.
Sunrise February 20, 1951 – Sunset February 23, 2022
John Blalark known as Mickey was born in Jackson, TN on February 20, 1951 to John McCloullen and Audrey Blalark. He is the oldest of seven children. In the mid 1960’s John and his family moved to Elgin, IL where he resided until 2001 when he moved to Rockford, IL. John always knew and loved the Lord, mind, body and soul. His grandfather, the late Reverend Lee Douglas Blalark served Christ in his church for a very long tenure in Tennessee and before John’s health came about, he would often seek guidance from his uncle, Reverend Walter Blalark, who is currently a servant to the Lord at Living Gospel Church of God in Christ in Elgin, IL. Mickey went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at home in Rockford, IL. Mickey entered active duty in the U.S. Navy in 1972 until his honorable discharge.
John is survived by his wife, Diane; sons, Michael of Rockford and Eric Carthan of Chicago; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers, Victor (Crystal) Ross, Darrell (Sharon) Ross of Elgin, Baron (Angel) Ross of Atlanta, GA, Johnna (Beulah) Ross of Rockford, Nelson Blalark Sr. of East Dundee; two step-sisters, Linda Clark of Seattle, WA and Jeanette (Kevin) Volkening of Elgin; step-brother, Oliver Houston of Cartersville, GA and Louis & Betty Clark of Elgin; and he leave a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, John McCloullen and Audrey Blalark Ross; daughter, Janeka Lovelace Blalark; great-grandmother, Mama Rosia Pope Cunningham; grandmother, Mary (Mother) Blalark; grandfather, Rev. Lee Douglas Blalark; aunts, Doris Jean Baker, and Joyce Holloway; uncles, Dondell Blalark, Leon Blalark Sr., and Roy Blalark; brother Noel (Bam) Ross and Dyviante Blalark; step-father John Ross and step-mother Mary Ross; and last but not least his pets Taz, Tina, Indian and Turbo. He was loved by his whole family and will be greatly missed. Thank you from the Blalark, Lovelace, Ross and Houston families.
Let not your heart be troubled;
Ye believe in God, believe also in me;
In my Father’s house are many mansions
If it were not so, I would have told you
I go to prepare a place for you
Unto myself that where I am,
There ye may be also
And wither I go ye know
And they way ye know
John 14: 1-4
Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesaday, March 2, 2022 at Fred C. Olson Chapel, 1001 Second Ave., Rockford. Burial of his ashes will be at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery in Joliet, IL. To share a memory or condolence, visit olsonfh.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John “Mickey” Blalark please visit our Tribute Store.
Published by Fred C. Olson Chapel – Rockford on Feb. 26, 2022.
