Obituary of Arthur Francis Blackmore, Jr.

Arthur Francis Blackmore, Jr. October 28, 1923 - April 12, 2014 Arthur F. Blackmore, Jr., lifelong resident of Pomfret, died on April 12 at the age of 90. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and retired from the Connecticut Department of Transportation in 1978. Mr. Blackmore was a lifelong communicant and caretaker of the grounds for the Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret for many decades. He was active in the American Legion and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. A lifelong beekeeper, Mr. Blackmore ("Mr. Bee") operated a bee-keeping supply shop known as the Bee Valley Apiary, at his home in Pomfret. Mr. Blackmore is predeceased by his wife Mary Ann (Skiffington), an infant son, Eugene Edward and, most recently, his daughter Ann Marie Simmons Hill, of Austin, TX. Survivors include his sister, Mildred Craven of East Longmeadow, MA, and 7 children and their spouses: Daniel (Francene) of Hilton Head, SC; Mary Margaret (Sebastian) Ragno of Willimantic; Marguerite (Robert) Rose of West Hartford; Judie Blackmore (Mike) of Pomfret; John (Kathy) of Willington; Kate (James) McGivern of Oradell, NJ and David (Jackie) of Trumbull. He leaves a son-in-law, Brian Hill, of Austin, TX. Mr. Blackmore's extended family includes 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. In his later years, Mr. Blackmore welcomed daily companion visits from the staff of Day Kimball Home Makers. After a fall this past winter, he rehabbed at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham. The Blackmore family appreciates the loving attention he received from staff at St. Joseph, and we are deeply grateful to the staff of Windham Community Memorial Hospital for the special care he received at the end of his life. Funeral will be Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam, CT, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Most Holy Trinity Church, 568 Pomfret Street, Pomfret, CT. Burial with Military Honors in South Cemetery, Pomfret, CT. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts in Arthur's name to Day Kimball Home Makers, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260 or charity of one's choice. To share a memory with his family "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com