Pat Blaylock

Larry Pat Blaylock was born in his farm home in Kinross, Iowa, on January 30, 1947, to Marvin and Jessie (Edmundson) Blaylock.  He was a surprise to the family as he was the second of twins to be born that day.  He often said his work ethic came from working the farm with his family, but he still found time to get into mischief with his twin brother, Mike.  Pat played many sports in high school and graduated from English Valleys High School in 1965.  He met his future wife, Michelle, there as well; and his dad told him he didn’t care what time he came home from a date, but he was going to get up the next morning at 5:00 AM to milk the cows.

Pat went on to Northeast Missouri State College (now Truman University) and received a Bachelor of Science in Education, all the while returning to the farm on weekends to help his family.  He went on to the University of Colorado in Greeley, CO, for masters degree coursework and to be near his twin brother who was recovering from injuries in the Vietnam War at Ft. Carson, CO.  In 1969, he and Michelle got married and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he taught physical education.  A year later they moved to Burke, VA, where he taught physical education, English and coached football and tennis in Fairfax County Public Schools.  He also taught anatomy and physiology and tennis at Northern Virginia Community College in the evenings.  He finished his Masters of Science in Education at Virginia Tech NoVA campus. They had two children, Shelby and Kyle, and briefly moved to Blacksburg, VA, so he could finish his Doctor of Education degree.  He became a high school principal in Fairfax County Public Schools after 7 years of teaching and worked for the county for 32 years.

After retirement, he and Michelle travelled around the US and enjoyed spending time at their beach house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Pat loved to fix and build things and he loved to keep busy, so he went to work helping his son, Kyle, with his construction business.  He died October 28, 2021, of a heart attack on a job site doing what he loved, helping others.

Pat didn’t know a stranger and would talk with anyone that would listen.  He especially loved his grandsons and would go to all their activities and cheer them on.  When we would get together for family events, he always joined in with their games.

Larry Pat Blaylock is survived by his wife of more than 51 years, Michelle, of Fairfax Station, VA; two children Shelby Guyer (Scott), of Aldie, VA, and Kyle Blaylock (Genevieve), of Burke, VA; four grandsons Brandon Guyer and Kaleb, Kody, and Kellan Blaylock.  He is also survived by his sister Karyl Miller (Bill), of Washington, IA, twin brother, Mike Blaylock (Margaret), of North English, IA, sister-in-law, Sandy Blaylock, of Williamsburg, IA, sister-in-law, Gelene Harris (John), of Muscatine, IA, and sister-in-law, Judy Gilmore of Huntsville, AL.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Jessie Blaylock, sister &  brother-in-law Karen and Marvin Gent, brother Gary Blaylock, nephew Robin Blaylock, and brother-in-law Fred Gilmore.

Pat was a 50 year member of the Farmer's Masonic Lodge #168.

A memorial visitation will be held from 10:00 -11:00 am on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Powell Funeral Home in North English. There will be a Masonic Service at 11:00 am.