Ivory Blacksure

CARUTHERSVILLE - Ivory Shaw Blacksure, 63, died March 20, 2002, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti.

Born April 29, 1938, in Blytheville, son of the late Charlie and Lee Annie Carter Shaw, he lived in Missouri for more than 60 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Catron, where he served on the Deacon Board and was a longtime member of "The Wondering Five" singers.

His first wife, Victoria Clark Blacksure, preceded him in death in 1973. He later married Rosie Blacksure and she died in 1998.

Survivors include: seven sons, Willie Clark, Ivory Olando Blacksure, Douglas Blacksure and Claude Blacksure of Portageville, Bobby Clark of Kansas City, Kan., Ivory Junior Downs of Hayti and Allen Young of Michigan; seven daughters, Deloris Downs of the state of California, Rosie Lee Blacksure, Melody Blacksure and Cathy Blacksure of Kansas City, Bertha Bell and Natilia Blacksure of Howardville and Jacqulyn Blacksure of South Carolina; one brother, Charlie Shaw Jr. of Chicago, Ill.; several grandchildren, two of whom he raised; one great-grandchild; and a special friend, Deloris Johnson of Caruthersville.

Visitation is from noon Saturday until service time at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Howardville. The Rev. J.D. Foster, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Catron, will officiate.

Burial will follow in Simmons Park Cemetery at Catron.

Williams-Farr and Purnell Funeral Home of Howardville is in charge of arrangements.