Jewel Pauline Blackwell

Jewel Pauline Blackwell, age 69, of New Philadelphia, died peacefully in her home, Thursday, April 12, 2007. Born June 10, 1937, at Ypsilanti, Michigan, Jewel was the only child of the late Eunice P. Johnson and Eldridge W. Bond. As a young lady, Jewel grew up in Missouri, where one of her first jobs was picking cotton. Later, while working as a waitress in Florida, Jewel met and fell in love with Clifton Blackwell Sr. The couple wed August 31, 1954. Jewel and Clifton relocated to the Tuscarawas Valley in 1956. Since moving here more than fifty years ago, Jewel has worked in a variety of jobs, including management of the New Philadelphia McDonalds restaurant, where she earned the nickname “Sergeant Jewel” Â? to her favorite job Â? working as a seamstress making custom draperies for Cardani’s.Jewel was a member of Alpine Bible Church at Sugarcreek. She enjoyed fishing with her late husband, gardening, cooking and baking for her family, and will always be remembered for her legendary pecan pie. Jewel was a descendant of the Cherokee Nation of Native Americans.She leaves behind a family that includes daughters Ginger (husband Gary) Zimmerman of New Philadelphia, Pauline (companion Earl Espenschied) of Strasburg, twin sons, Clint (wife Cathy) Blackwell of Somerdale, Clifton Blackwell Jr. of New Philadelphia, and daughter Linda Harper of New Philadelphia. She’ll be sadly missed by her grandchildren, Gary and Clifton “C.J.” Zimmerman, both of New Philadelphia, Torri (husband Todd) Tedrick of Strasburg, Shane Zahner of Dover, Eric (wife Alicia) Blackwell of New Philadelphia, Dustin (companion Cassie) Blackwell of Dover, Kyle C. Blackwell and fiancé Tina Chupp, both of Strasburg, Amanda (companion Joseph) Geltz of Sugarcreek, Jason Harper and Travis Harper, both of New Philadelphia. Six great-grandchildren; Clifton, Logan, Trinity, Zack, Alexis, Nick and Madilynn, and her pet Pomeranian dog, Muffy, complete the family. In addition to her parents, Jewel was preceded in death by her husband, Clifton May 12, 2002, her son-in-law Donald E. Harper, and a grandson, Clifton J. Blackwell. Jewel’s life will be celebrated Tuesday morning at 10:30 in the Alpine Bible Church, 719 Dutch Valley Drive NE at Sugarcreek, with Pastor Byron Stewart officiating. Cremation will follow private family viewing earlier in the week in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia.