J. Michael Blew

Mike Blew, 65, passed away on Aug. 27, 2012, in Junction, Texas. Mike was born April 21, 1947, in Fayetteville, Ark., to Frank W. Blew Sr. and Nancy Catherine Shreve Foster. He was a graduate of Fayetteville High School class of 1965. He served a tour of duty as a soldier in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam conflict, receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service. Mike received a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He lived and served the Fayetteville, Ark., community as a certified public accountant until he relocated to Junction, Texas, in 1996. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Blew Sr., and his brother, Frank Blew Jr., both of Fayetteville, Ark. He is survived by his wife, Rita Blew of Junction, Texas; mother, Catherine Shreve Foster and stepfather, Bill Foster, of Farmington, Ark.; sister, Nancy Blew Israel of Fayetteville, Ark.; two sons, Brandan Blew of Fayetteville, Ark., and Tanner Blew of San Diego, Calif.; and their mother, Cheryl Cook Blew of Fayetteville, Ark.; two half-brothers, Brad Blew of Farmington, Ark., and Clint Blew of Kansas City, Mo.; stepson, Beau Smith and stepdaughter, Traci Foote, both of Junction, Texas. Mike will always be remembered for his generous and selfless heart. His interests included sporting events, volunteering his spare time to serve the Woodland Junior High and Fayetteville High School Athletic Booster clubs and family leisure at the Fayetteville Country Club. An avid lover of horses and horse-racing, he retired in 2010 to tend his horse ranch in Junction, Texas. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at The Church at Arkansas, 1905 E. Mission Blvd., in Fayetteville at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations on behalf of J. Michael Blew are sent to the Equestrian Bridges Foundation at 3934 Mahogany Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72704.