Nell S. Blount

Nell S. Blount of Bartow, Florida, passed away at her home after a brief battle with cancer on Wednesday, September 16, 2009. Mrs. Blount was 85. Mrs. Blount was born Sept. 23, 1923, in Miami, Florida to the late Donald and Ruth Shaffer and later moved from Frostproof to Miami Beach after the death of her mother to live with her Aunt and Uncle Rebecca and Kenneth Burritt. Mrs. Blount was a 1941 graduate of Miami Beach Sr. High and attended secretarial college in Coral Gables. During this time she met the love of her life and husband for 65 years, Walker E. "Bill" Blount, Jr., who passed away in 2007. She moved to Bartow in 1946 from Miami Beach with her husband and their 3 year old daughter Rebecca. Jennifer Nell came along in 1947 and the family was completed with the arrival of Barbara Grace in 1955. Mrs. Blount was a devoted wife, mother, friend, and Christian lady. She was an active volunteer throughout the school lives of her daughters, serving as a home room mother and PTA member. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Bartow for 63 years. Mrs Blount was an avid bridge player, member of the So-Sew club, needle work guild, and volunteer for the March of Dimes. Unbeknownst to her at the time, the Ocean Club North Condominium Association of New Smyrna Beach elected her association President. Mrs. Blount loved traveling the world with her husband and friends. She was predeceased by her husband Walker E. "Bill" Blount and her daughter Dr. Rebecca Bryson Kissinger. She is survived by her daughters; Jennifer Nell Joyner, husband Dr. Gary Joyner of Bartow, Barbara Grace Merachnik of New Smyrna Beach, grandchildren; Jeffrey Bryson, Ashley Kissinger, Amy Kissinger, Jacob Joyner and wife Jennifer, Mathew Joyner and wife Kristi, Luke Joyner, Joshua Joyner and wife Melody, Gary Merachnik, and Corey Merachnik. She also leaves behind six great grandchildren, sister Anabel Sargent of Pell City, AL, sister Kay Burritt French of Kenniwick, WA, brothers Don Shaffer of Zephyrhills, Jack Shaffer of Murphy, NC, sister-in-law Mary Blount of Bartow, and loving nieces and nephews. Funeral services will by held Saturday, Sept. 19th t 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church of Bartow, 455 South Broadway in Bartow. Interment will follow in Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow. Following the interment the family will receive friends at the Blount home 1105 E. Bougainvillea Way in Bartow. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Bartow, 455 South Broadway, Bartow, FL 33830 or a charity of choice