MERCED, Jan. 6 – Funeral services for William Lee Blackston, 75, Merced, were held this afternoon in the Ivers & Alcorn Mission Chapel here with the Rev. Harry Transchell officiating. Burial was in the family plot in the Masonic Cemetery here.

Blackston, a retired rancher, died Saturday in a local hospital after a short illness. A native of Arkansas, he had lived in Merced for 18 years.

Surviving are six sons, O. J. Blackston, with the United States Army at Fort Sill; Roy Blackston, Stockton; and Buster, Elmer, Earl and W. D. Blackston, all of Merced; three daughters, Mrs. Viola Ziglar, San Francisco, and Mrs. Bonnie Blakesley and Mrs. Mabel Edwards, both of Merced; two sisters, Mrs. Bond Scrambler, Lindsay, and Mrs. Ludie Roberts, Oklahoma, and two half brothers, J. M. Baughman, Alameda, and E. H. Cook, Fresno.

~ The Modesto Bee (California), 6 Jan 1948
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1920 Census, Dill, Kiowa Co, Oklahoma:
William L Blackston, 44, farming–gen. farm, b AR, fthr AR, mthr MS.
Cora A, wife, 34, b KS, fthr IA, mthr Canada.
Odie J, son, 16, farm–laborer, b OK.
Roy P, son, 15, farm–laborer, b OK.
William D, son, 12, b OK.
Willis R, son, 9, b TX.
Elmer H, son, 7, b OK.
Kenneth E, son, 4y 8m, b OK.
Mary V, dtr, 2y 7m, b OK.
Bonnie P, dtr, 6 mos, b OK.
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1930 Census, Visalia, Tulare Co, California:
W Lee Blackstone, 54, m at 20, laborer -farm, non-vet, b AR, fthr USA, mthr MS.
Cora A, wife, 46, m at 19, b KS, fthr IA, mthr Canada.
P Roy, son, 25, laborer–farm, non-vet, b OK.
Doyle W, son, 23, laborer–farm, non-vet, b OK.
W Ray, son, 21, laborer–farm, non-vet, b TX.
K Earl, son, 15, b OK.
Viola M, dtr, 12, b OK.
Bonnie P, dtr, 10, b OK.
Mabel F, dtr, 8, b OK.
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Wm. Lee Blackston was born on 3 Dec 1874 in Arkansas, and died on 3 Jan 1948 in Merced County. His mother's maiden name was Vandergrift. [California Death Index]