Mary Joretta "Jody" Blalock

Jody was a nurturer for her entire life. Born the 10th of 11 children to Alonzo Bell Starr and Mattie Bell Lillard Starr in Altus, OK, she learned to cook and take care of nieces and nephews at an early age. Her parents were extremely hard-working individuals: farmers who also worked at various times at the local school as janitor, cook, and bus driver. Jody's favorite things in life were her family and young children (oh, how she adored babies!). Jody moved with her parents and half of her siblings to Bakersfield, CA in 1944, during the dust bowl.

Jody met her husband, Clarence Eugene "Doc" Blalock when she was 16 and he was 20. They met at church, where Doc was a friend of two of Jody's brothers. Jody and Doc were married on June 23, 1951, and Jody stayed with one of her sisters in Oklahoma while Doc completed US Air Force basic training. When he was deployed to Korea, Jody returned to Bakersfield to have their first child, Cheryl Ann. After Doc was discharged from the Air Force , they moved to Fresno where Janice Elaine (Jan) was born. Jody had several friends in Fresno and was a part of both the church and the close-knit neighborhood. She was famous for her angel food and devil's food cakes!

Jody and family moved to Southern California in 1959. After brief stays in Whittier and La Habra, they settled in Brea in 1963, and son Paul Kevin was born two years later. In 1974 they moved to their long time home in Villa Park.

Jody was always supportive of her children: helping out in their classrooms, hosting neighborhood gatherings in the backyard ("let's put on a show!"), attending singing concerts, dance concerts, and taking her son on day trips to Knotts Berry Farm and San Diego. Jody and Cheryl sang together in the church choir, and Jody danced with Jan in the living room to the latest pop songs!

Jody was active for many years at Fullerton First Baptist Church in Southern California. She briefly attended Church of the Roses Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa after moving to Northern California in 1997. Jody was shy but had a few close friends. Her pals Janet and Joelle were precious to her. She was also very close to her younger sister, Cora (Corky). They were the best of friends throughout life until Corky passed in 2020.

Jody and Doc divorced in 1997 after 45 years of marriage. Jody packed up and moved to Santa Rosa to be near Jan, who was also newly divorced and raising 9-year-old Stephanie Nicole Allaire and 3-year-old Lauren Michelle Allaire. Jody was very proud to now be independent: living on her own for the first time, making all of her own decisions. Jody found her ultimate role as grandma (or "G-Ma", as Steph and Lauren called her), caring for her granddaughters while Jan worked, picking up the girls from school, taking them to dance practice, attending their performances and much more. In 2004 Jan married Jeremy Gorman and Jody bonded with him and his daughter, Blair as well. Son Paul Kevin lives in Washington State with his two sons, Nathan Emmanuel and James Kevin. They saw each other often and were also very close. Jody always made her children and grandchildren feel important and loved and she is intensely loved by them as well. Jody was lady-like in attitude and style but very strong willed. Her love of her independence and her family thankfully kept her going longer than we expected given her many health issues, and her family and wonderful caretakers helped care for her the last several years of her life. She is forever in our hearts and we will miss her dearly.

Jody is survived by Cheryl Blalock and Randy Schlesinger, daughter and son-in-law, San Mateo, CA; Janice Blalock and Jeremy Gorman, daughter and son-in-law, Santa Rosa, CA; Paul Blalock, son, Puyallup, WA; Stephanie Allaire and Robert Seaver, granddaughter and partner, Los Angeles, CA; Lauren Allaire and Keegan de la Cruz, granddaughter and husband, Las Vegas, NV; Blair Gorman Diaz and Budd Diaz, step granddaughter and husband, Los Angeles, CA; Nathan Blalock, grandson, Puyallup, WA; and James "Jimmy" Blalock, grandson, Puyallup, WA.

A memorial service will be held April 4 at 3pm at Daniels Chapel of the Roses in Santa Rosa, CA. In lieu of flowers the family invites donations in Jody's name to either Redwood Empire Food Bank or Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital.