1955-2025
Roy Vance Blackerby of Grapevine, Arkansas was born October 27, 1955 in Pine Bluff, to the late H.V. and Jeroline Lites Blackerby. After a long hard fight with pancreatic cancer was promoted to his heavenly home with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of May 10, 2025 at the age of 69.
He was a lifelong member of Ain Missionary Baptist Church where he was ordained as a Deacon on August 3rd 1990. He faithfully served his Lord in his church and was willing to serve in whatever capacity that was needed. He also loved his community and could be found always helping other.
He retired from the Cotton Belt Railroad with 20 years of service. He worked at Tractor Supply in Sheridan and they all loved working beside him. He worked tirelessly on his family farm doing hay and raising cattle where he spent endless hours on that Big Blue Tractor that he said he spent lots of close time with God above! There was nothing he wouldn’t try to fix and he loved woodworking in his shop! His grandkids would say “Just take it to Papaw” he can fix anything.
He leaves behind a legacy of how very important his God and his family were to him. His wife Vicki was his rock and absolute love of his life. They were soul mates in everything they did in their “49” years of life together. With God guiding them, they raised an amazing and beautiful family together. They were two people so close that they believed and thought as one. His God and his family were his whole life. They were his world and that’s what he lived for. He was and always will be their incredible hero. Spending precious time with them was what he strived for. He was always trying to teach the importance of God in their lives and staying close as a family. That “Blackerby” name means everything he would tell them. Vance never met a stranger and he touched so many with his unwavering kindness and compassion. He was truly amazing in every way. He was never afraid to try anything and everyone that knew him loved him and had the greatest respect for him! A man like him can never be replaced and we were blessed beyond measure and are so very thankful that we were able to share our lives with this incredible, talented and wonderful man! He will live in our hearts forever and will be missed more than words can say but we take comfort in knowing that he is safe and whole again in the arms of God and we will be reunited with him again when we all get to our heavenly home.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Faye Lunsford; brother-in-law, Charles Lunsford; nephew Rex Ashcraft; mother and father-in-law, Virgie and Hershell Bratton; brothers-in-law, John Gray and Bobby Grooms.
He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Vicki Bratton Blackerby; daughter and son-in-law, Brandy and Adam Ashley; twin sons, Cody Blackerby and Chris Blackerby and daughter-in-law, Amanda; seven grandchildren, Brooke and Blake Roberts, Avana Ashley, Cayden Blackerby, Braylon, Avery, and Ivy Blackerby; sisters, Dianne Ashcraft (Tommy), Vinda Lou Bradford (Huey); sisters-in-law Barbara Rice (Mark), Brenda Gray (James) and Ellen Grooms and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
We would like to say a special thanks to all the churches and everyone that said so many prayers for Vance, he so appreciated them all. To Bro. David and Sis. Vicki Hiblong, Sherman and Pattie Lites, McCoy Tygart Drug and Tractor Supply for they all went above and beyond. His wonderful surgeon Dr. Attilli and nurse Brandy that did everything they could do for him, as well as nurses Summer and Lisa at Carti.
Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, May 15, 2025 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home with burial to follow at Ain Cemetery in Grapevine. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at the funeral home from 6:00-8:00 PM.
Pallbearers are David Lunsford, Robert Lunsford, Sherman Lites, Carlton Lites, Roger Wardlaw and Jon Ashcraft.
Memorials may be made to Ain Cemetery Association.
