Matthew Walker (Matt) Blansett, September 25, 1981-August 23, 2022 went home to meet his heavenly Father Tuesday.

He was a lifelong resident of South Pittsburg and Marion County and attended South Pittsburg High School where he was a four-year letterman in football and baseball.  He was also a member of the 1999 State Football team.  Matt attended Chattanooga State after graduation and earned a degree in Criminal Justice.  His first job was dispatching for the City of South Pittsburg.

At a very early age, he became a member of the South Pittsburg Volunteer Fire Department.  He went to work for the Marion County Sheriff's Department in 2002 as a county dispatcher.  He attended the police academy, came home and started his twenty -year career as a deputy, and later was promoted to detective.

Matt was the Commander and Training Officer of the SWAT Team, also, he was the  Arson Investigator of Marion County.  He was instrumental in starting the K9 program in Marion County.

Matt would go out of his way to help people and always knew what was going on in Marion County.  One of his good friends always told him he could smell the bad guys a mile away.  Matt was passionate about his work.  He also was elected and served on the county commission.

Matt enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with his family and friends on the river.  He especially loved coaching Maddox in baseball.  His greatest accomplishment was being a dad to Maddox and Banks.

Matt accepted Christ as a young teenager and was raised in South Pittsburg First Baptist Church.  He always enjoyed going to Sunday School and getting Mrs. Lewis' homemade cinnamon bread or Mrs. Miller's chess bars.

Matt is preceded in death by his grandparents; Dickie and Mary Ruth Walker and Scott and Jennie Blansett.

He is survived by his wife, Codie Massengale Blansett and two sons; Maddox and Banks, parents, Donald and Donna Blansett, sister, Samantha  Rector (Tommy),   nephew, Luke Rector,  Uncle,  Jim Jackson (Frances)  several cousins and a host of friends.  He will be missed by many.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:00 p.m.(CST) on Saturday, August 27, 2022 with Pastor Jeff Lane officiating at the South Pittsburg High School Gymnasium, 717 Elm Ave, South Pittsburg, TN 37380

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.(CST) at the South Pittsburg High School prior to the Celebration of Life.

Pallbearers will be Chris Blevins, David Church, Todd Houser, Michael Griffith, Clay Moss, Dusty Paul, Cam Steele, Chase Steele, Daniel Thomas and Matt Stone.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the Marion County Sheriff's Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Marion County Sheriff's Department Christmas for Kids.

Arrangements are entrusted to Rogers Funeral Home, 400 Laurel Ave, South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423 837-7176.