David Ray “Sleepy” Blankenship of Eureka Springs, who had recently been appointed as Carroll County District 1 Justice of the Peace, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Sept. 25. He was 65.
Blankenship had been appointed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on June 20 to fill the District 1 seat on the Carroll County Quorum Court left vacant by the retirement of longtime JP Jack Deaton. He attended his first meeting as a JP on July 15.
“David’s life was full of creativity, adventure, and a touch of mischief,” Blankenship’s obituary says. “He loved boating and fishing with his wife, woodworking, and crafting. He loved playing his guitar and leading worship, using music to point others to Christ every Sunday at Full Faith Ministries. David also ran the Carving in the Ozarks Chainsaw Carving Festival for 20 years, bringing together artists and community in a way that reflected his love for people and nonprofit work. Friends and family could always count on him for an up-to-theminute report of Northwest Arkansas weather and traffic accidents on Highway 62, and he never missed an opportunity to make a good deal on Facebook Marketplace or grab breakfast with his friends at Bunches Gas Station. And Whataburger. How could we ever forget about his unwavering love of Whataburger?”
“At the center of David’s life was his faith in Jesus Christ,” his obituary says. “He didn’t just sing about the goodness of God on Sunday mornings, He lived it out daily in the way he loved his family, served his church with food pantry ministry, and welcomed others like family.
“Because of that faith, his family grieves with hope, confident that he is now in the presence of his Savior. David’s greatest desire was that others would know the same joy and freedom he found in Christ, and he would want his life, departure, and legacy to point every heart toward that good news.”
Blankenship was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Claudia Blankenship. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Beverly; his daughter, Amanda, and her husband, Cory Willoughby of Prairie Grove, along with their daughter Ava Kate; and his son, Travis, and his wife, Kelsey Blankenship of Bentonville. He is also survived by his brothers Joe and wife Suzy, Dale, Johnny and wife JoNell, and many other
A celebration of Blankenship’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Full Faith Ministries in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Full Faith Ministries Food Pantry. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral.com.
The quorum court is expected to adopt a resolution at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, declaring a vacancy in the District 1 seat.
