Jimmy Neil Blackburn

New Iberia - A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia, for Jimmy Neil Blackburn, 68. A gathering of family and friends will be at Pellerin Funeral Home from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Friday, and will continue on Saturday from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. Deacon Durk Viator will be the Officiant. Jimmy Neil Blackburn, born Oct 21,1949 in Amarillo, Texas to Doris Elliott, died February 10, 2018, in New Iberia after fighting prolonged illnesses. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sybil Blackburn; son Neil Randolph Randy Blackburn and wife Heather of Maurice, Louisiana; sisters, Elaine Shelton, Cindy King, and Darla Elliott, all of Texas; grandchildren Matthew Blackburn and wife Tori, James Blackburn, Elizabeth Blackburn, Haley Blackburn, Jillian Blackburn, Brittany Richard and Alex Guillory; and brothers-in-law, Billy Colgin of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and David Land of New Iberia. He was preceded in death by a son James Russell Blackburn; his parents Doris and Burl Elliott; and a sister-in-law, Carol Land. Jimmy was a welder and fitter in his early career, then became a Draftsman and Estimator and worked for Dynamic Industries for over 20years. He liked to garden, especially his orchids which he brought back from his time living in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, he enjoyed body surfing and helping maintain all of the tropical plants on the acre and a half of land where they lived. He loved football, and his team was the Dallas Cowboys. But his favorite pastime was socializing with his buddies down at Toms and Port Lodge. He enjoyed watching old Westerns, and after going blind, he liked to listen to the narrated shows on the TV. Jimmy was known to be a little hard headed. Once a salesman told him to get a haircut before an important meeting, and he did. But he said he would never get another one - and he didnt. That was over 20 years ago. Peanut, his miniature Sheltie, was his constant companion and is mourning him and keeping his side of the bed warm. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560 (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.