Emmett Blackmun Obituary

Emmett Blackmun was a very hard working, intentional and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, brother and friend. He passed away on Oct. 26, 2024, at the age of 81.

He was born to Lois and Emmett Sr. Blackmun on Jan. 24, 1943, in San Francisco, Calif. In the 1950s Emmett, with his parents and brother Richard, moved to Oregon. He started his career at Safeway and worked his way into management with his first assignment in Roseburg, Ore., and was then promoted to the Safeway in Lakeview, Ore., two years later. Emmett was the father of two children, Gary and Sheryl. He and his family enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and arrowhead hunting nearly every weekend.

In 1977 and 1978, Emmett played a role as one of the scout leaders of the first Boy Scouts exchange between Japan and the U.S.

Emmett met the love of his life and his best friend Donna in January 1983. Emmett gained two stepchildren, Roger and Teresa, and loved them and their families like his own. Emmett also gained many in-laws and family gatherings were common. One that Emmett took great joy in, was the Marshall brothers annual camp out. His love of the outdoors and family blended hanging out with the guys, cooking for the kids, while inspiring and teaching them to love the outdoors through his storytelling and life lessons.

In the 1990s Emmett and Donna enjoyed antique and furniture shopping all around southern Oregon for their furniture store.

Emmett and Donna enjoyed their retired years traveling around Oregon together to work on their house projects and visit their growing family. They had 27 grandchildren and great grandchildren and always greeted them with a "Hey, where's my hug?" They also spent a lot of time outdoors and you could find them driving through their local Dutch Bros. each morning for a shared cup of coffee, to be enjoyed during their scenic drive on Savage Creek Road.

Emmett has joined his father, mother and daughter in Heaven and he will be missed greatly by his wife Donna, son Gary, stepchildren Roger and Teresa, brother Rich and 27 grand (and great) grandchildren.