Gary D. Blackwell

Gary D. Blackwell, 75, of Cleveland, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Gary was born on January 21, 1951 in Cleveland, Tennessee to the late Lawrence Blackwell and Edith Swafford Gaddis.
Gary was a lifelong backhoe and heavy equipment operator. Later in life, he became a used car salesman. In his spare time, Gary loved to go to casinos,and bowling leagues, and playing Rook. He enjoyed riding old and new motorcycles, cars, and trucks. He was an avid University of Tennessee fan #VFL.

In addition to this parents, Gary is preceded in death by his beloved aunts and uncles, Cecil (Lorene) Swafford, Virginia Swafford, Louella (Louis) Posey, Jeanette (JN) Taylor, Faye (Gene) Tucker, Eulene (Don) Bivens, beloved cousins, Steve Posey, Carolyn Allen, and Tucker Dillard, cousins, Linda Foster, Willard Posey, Yvonne Posey, Lonnie Posey, grandparents of the Swafford and Blackwell families, and step-son in law, Kenny Fowler.

He is survived by his loving spouse, Brenda Blackwell, very special cousins who were like siblings, Anthony Tucker, and his family: Briley, Bella, and Titus Swafford, Kim (Rodney) Dillard and their family: Kaitlin (Cody) Burrell, Olivia (Briar) Lee, Cindy (Mike) Wooten, and their son: Brandon (Virginia) Wooten.
Gary is also survived by Stephanie (Chris) Cameron, Steven (Lauren) Allen, stepchildren, Star Fowler, Todd Schuman, Jack Brewer (and his children), Racheal (Jason) Defriece, Angel(Steve) Burke, stepgrandchildren, Rivers Defriece, Levi and Bethany Burke, Jackson and Makenna Fowler, special extended family and lifelong friends, Larry Holcomb, Barbara York, Dan and Joyce Vunora, Wanda Jones, Wanda (Brown) Buckner, Randy Brown, Mickey Brown, Linda Turner, Terry and Tim Posey, Donna Smith, Darlene Fields, Bobby Posey, Janie Posey, Melissa Phillips, and numerous other extended family members and friends.

Gary was laid to rest at Benton Memorial Gardens, in Polk County Tennessee. Rodney Dillard, Titus Swafford, Jackson Fowler, Cody Burrell, Briar Lee, and Brandon Wooten served as pallbearers

Honorary Pallbearers were Anthony Tucker, Mike Wooten, and Larry Holcomb.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Gary or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Cleveland and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.