| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 21 Jan 2007.
Three generations of Blazers serve Cocke County on CLB
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 9 Dec 2003.
BLAZER, WILLIAM CLAY - better known as Bill, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, November 18, 2003. Bill will be sadly missed by countless friends, family and former students. He was preceded in death by: his parents, H. C. and Bertha Blazer: and infant daughter Emily Lee Blazer. Bill was born in 1947. He was brought into this world by a midwife who lived on a neighboring Good Hope community farm. He was his parent's only child. One of his proudest accomplishments includes going to school in a two room schoolhouse where his mother taught in Manning's Chapel. Reluctantly, he followed his mother to attend the rest of elementary schooling at the Newport Grammar School. He attended high school at Parrottsville and graduated in 1965. It was at Parrottsville he found his mentor and inspiration for becoming a teacher, Liston Davis. Following graduation he attended college at Carson Newman. In the spring of 1970 Bill and Dolly, daughter of Guy and Magda Hommel, were married. Before long they had built a home on the family farm and began raising a family. They had three children: April, Laura and Clay. Bill worked tirelessly on whatever he found himself doing. Whether it was farm work, teaching or a community issue, Bill put everything he had into his work. Soon after getting married Bill was hired to teach at Parrottsville High School. He loved Parrottsville High School and had dreams of someday seeing and other high school north of the French Broad River. Other than a brief try at a county wide political office, Bill spent his entire working career as a teacher. He retired in October 2002. Bill's teaching has led students into a wide variety of careers ranging from doctors to lawyers, naval and army officers, to teachers, one of whom was named Tennessee Teacher of the Year and cited Bill as one of her driving forces to become a teacher. His motto as a teacher was derived from another of his role models. Despite having never met him, Bill enjoyed the works of Jesse Stuart and lived out this motto for his teaching, "I am firm in my belief that a teacher lives on and on through his students. Good teaching is forever and the teacher is immortal." Most former students would agree that he made a lasting impact on their lives. Besides teaching in a community that he loved Bill will be remembered for his love of his community. He along with several others in the Parrottsville Community fought desperately to keep Parrottsville High School open. Eventually in 1975 the doors closed at the Parrottsville High School. Anyone who knew him knew that he loved that place as much as one could. He dreamed of one day seeing its being reopened. There are two things that he will be most remembered for by Cocke Countians, they are separate but interrelated, his love and passion for his community and his fearlessness when taking a stand on any issue that was important to him. Bill will leave behind, wife Dolly, daughter April Blazer of Johnson City, daughter and son-in-law Randy and Laura Forbes, and son Clay Blazer, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Ronnie and Debbie Hommel, Guy, Jr. and Gayla Hommell, father-in-law and mother-in-law Guy and Magda Hommel, grandchildren Caven and Kylie Forbes, special nieces and nephews Dustin, Duayne, Derek and Marissa Hommel, special daughter Nikki Coggins-Rouleau, his many beloved students, as well as countless other close friends. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 5 til 9 p.m. with the funeral on Friday 2:00 p.m. at the Manes Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in the Blazer Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department, Parrottsville United Methodist Church, Parrottsville Elementary School Library or the Charity of Choice. Manes in charge
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 20 Nov 2003.
NEWPORT -- Cocke County's first county executive and a longtime educator, Bill Blazer, died Tuesday afternoon at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County.
The 56-year-old Mr. Blazer of Parrottsville was elected county executive in 1978 and served until 1982. He then served a four-year term on the Cocke County Legislative Body.
Family members said Mr. Blazer was diagnosed with emphysema several years ago, had recently been in deteriorating health and had been severely depressed.
A family member found him Tuesday morning, suffering from a single gunshot wound, at the Blazer family cemetery near his home.
"The investigation is not complete but we do not suspect foul play," said Robert Caldwell, chief detective of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department.
Mr. Blazer was remembered as a caring teacher and community leader.
"Teaching was his first love," said his son, Clay Blazer. "He always wanted to make a difference in the lives of his kids."
Mr. Blazer had taught history, government and geography at Parrottsville School for 29 years until his recent retirement. Mr. Blazer also loved politics and the Parrottsville community, his son said.
"He did without in an effort to help his neighbors who were in need," Clay Blazer said.
Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. today at Manes Funeral Home of Newport. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Manes chapel, with burial to follow in the family cemetery.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
name: H C Blazer
titles and terms:
event type: Marriage
event date: 05 Sep 1943
event place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
age:
birth year (estimated):
father's name:
father's titles and terms:
mother's name:
mother's titles and terms:
spouse's name: Bertha Blanchard
spouse's titles and terms:
spouse's age:
spouse's birth year (estimated):
spouse's father's name:
spouse's father's titles and terms:
spouse's mother's name:
spouse's mother's titles and terms:
reference id:
gs film number: 1669902
digital folder number: 004485977
image number: 01324
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