In loving memory of
John Blackburn Lilly

• September 10, 1946
• -
• August 09, 2016

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1SG John Blackburn Lilly, USA, RET, 69 of Johnson City TN, and Orlando FL passed gently at Mission Hospital in Asheville NC. on Tuesday evening August 9, 2016. John was born on Rural Route # 5 Carter County TN in a log cabin built by his Dad. John left his family at age 17 to join the Army starting his military career walking guard duty on the Panama Canal. After serving three tours in Viet Nam, John retired on the 27th day of March 1985 from Fort Knox, KY. He loved the military and stayed involved through his lifetime membership in VFW Post 2108 in Johnson City, TN, and the American Legion Post #17 in New Smyrna Beach FL. He also enjoyed his membership in the Loyal Order of Moose in New Smyrna Beach.

John loved visiting the National Parks especially the ones in the West, never said no to a cruise be it to Mexico, the Panama Canal or Alaska, and was an avid Miami Dolphin fan.

John was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Juanita Blackburn Lilly, a sister Loretta Connell and three brothers Edward, Tab, and Leroy. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Shirley I. Lilly, daughters Marcia Wise and husband Mike, grandchildren Michael, Tiffany and Travis of New Smyrna Beach, FL daughter Erica Lilly and grandchildren Dominick, Allana, and Nevaeh of Rolla Missouri, sons Kevin Shawn Lilly also of New Smyrna Beach and John B. Lilly, II and wife Rachel, grandchildren Connor and Nolan of Lake City, FL, sister Margaret Emmons and husband Edward of Port Orange, FL and four brothers Dean Lilly and wife Bonnie, Michael and wife Pearl, and Dewey all of Port Orange, FL, William and wife Belen of Middlburgh, FL.

Known as “PaPa John”, he was also loved for 30 years by Shirley’s children Tammy Lance and granddaughter Jesyka, Judy Pourtadayoun, granddaughters Sarah Schellers and husband Mike, great grandchildren Yasmine and Aiden, granddaughter Julia Patenaude and husband Jacob, great grandchildren Berlyn, Olive and Hazel, granddaughters Sohayla and Simine Pourtadayoun, daughter Shirley Marie Peet and granddaughter Heaven and, great grandson Rylan, son Jody D. Baker.

The family of John Lilly will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday August 21,2016 at Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home in New Smyrna Beach FL. Services will be held at the Funeral Home Monday August 22,2016 at 11:00 AM. A committal service with full Military Honors will follow at Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims.

Following the committal service friends are asked to join the family at American Legion Post #17 as his membership is entered into Post Everlasting. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.org, or mailed to Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675.