Donald Ray Blythe, 66, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, passed away Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Horizon Health Hospital in Paris, Illinois, surrounded by his children.

He was born January 2, 1955, the son of Adam Harold and Mary Rebecca (McDonald) Blythe in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.  Don graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in the class of 1973 and went on to college to get an Associates Degree.  On November 1, 1975, Don married Lynn Marie Edmondson in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.  They had been married 42 years upon her passing in 2019.

Don was a member of the Lancaster Church of Christ and served as an Elder for the church.  He was a member of the Lancaster Christian School Board.  Don was owner/operator of Thermal Insulators and Blythe’s Pet Shop.  He drove a school bus for 20 years for District #348.  For several years Don served as 4-H swine superintendent. He worked forty years for Mobley & Grant Auction Company, thirty of which he was an auctioneer.  He was a member of the Auctioneers Association for Illinois and Indiana.   Don worked as a team leader for TMMI, retiring after 16 years.  Farming and auctioning were his greatest passion.

Left to cherish Don’s memory are his children Jennifer (Nate) Alexander, David (Mychelle) Blythe, Sabrina (Kerry) Kocher, Stephanie (David) VanWormer, Jessica (Kyle) Clodfelter, and was a second father to Aaron Schmit; ten grandchildren who called him “Papaw,” Rebekah, Elizabeth and Abigail Alexander, Quentyn and Adalynn Blythe, Kadence and Ethan Kocher, Dakota VanWormer, Emma and Lydia Clodfelter; siblings Eldon (Kathy) Blythe and Diana (Clark) Floyd; father-in-law Paul Edmondson; sister-in-law Rita Chansler; and several nieces and nephews.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, wife, mother-in-law Mary Edmondson and close family friend May Johnson. 

Family and friends are invited to a visitation for Don Sunday, March 28, 2021, from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Short Funeral Home, 527 N. Mulberry Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois. 

A funeral service will be held Monday, March 29, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Short Funeral Home with burial immediately following at Highland Memorial Cemetery where he will be laid to rest by his wife.

COVID-19 precautions, wearing of face coverings, social distancing and use of hand sanitizer is recommended.

Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com  

Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Don’s family.