Rayford Blevins

Rayford Deyon Blevins, 72, of Pittsburg, Kansas, formerly of Pleasanton, Kansas. died Sunday, August 19, 2007 at Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born September 9, 1934 in Sweetwater, Oklahoma, the son of Orville and Billie Howell Blevins. He married Shirley Herring. Rayford graduated from Pleasanton High School in 1952 and attended Pittsburg State University, receiving an Associate Degree in Refrigeration. He served on the first Linn County Rural Fire Board, was a former member of the Pleasanton City Council and City Fire Department and a member of the VFW. He served two years with the United States Army and 18 years in the National Guard and was unit commander of the National Guard unit at Pleasanton. Rayford also drove a school bus for nine years for the Pleasanton School district. He managed the local Western Auto store for 16 years before going to work for P&M Coal Company, retiring from P&M in 1990 as a field supervisor. He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Pleasanton, Kansas; his step-mother, Evelyn Dodson of Missouri; one son, Norman Blevins of Pittsburg, Kansas; one daughter, Raye Ann Baker of Olathe, Kansas; one brother, Dewayne Blevins of California one sister, Joyce Noakes of Missouri, one grandson, Chris Baker and two great grandchildren, Madison and Jackson Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 24, 2007 at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel, Pleasanton, Kansas. Visitation will be from 6:30-8:00 PM,Thursday at the chapel. Contributions are suggested to the Pleasanton Cemetery Association. Interment will be in Pleasanton Cemetery. Arrangements: Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home, Pleasanton, Kansas. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.coffelschneider.com