Austin Blankenship

Austin Cheyenne Blankenship also known as "Bowdy" or "BO", was born on March 17, 1994 at Princeton Community Hospital, Princeton, WV, to Kimberliee and Danny R. Blankenship. He was the youngest of 3 children, he has a sister, Amber Karen Keeny, of Lacey, WA and a brother Aaron Corey Wes Blankenship, of Jesse, WV. He also leaves behind his Mother Kimberliee Benscoter of Lacey, WA and his beloved Step-father Terry Benscoteralso of Lacey, WA.

He is preceded in death by his father Danny R. Blankenship, of Princeton, WV, his paternal Grand-mother Addie Alice Blankenship also of Princeton, WV, step-Grandfather James W. White, of Rockview, WV, and uncle SSG. Darren D. Vankomen, of Olympia, WA.

First let me say, it is going to be extremely difficult to sum up this great life in a few paragraphs, I could write books and still never be able to describe Bowdy for how much he meant to not just his family but his multitude of friends. I hope everyone will take a minute to write a comment about how Austin impacted their life. I will cherish them all forever.

Austin from the start was quite the charmer. He learned at the early age of 1 that he could get his way with his beautiful deep blue eyes and that sweet smile. He had an infectious laugh and sense of humor, it was true...it was almost impossible to discipline him if you had to look him in the eye, the twinkle of mischief and a kind heart was always there, accompanied by the most beautiful smile. He was so difficult to stay mad at for long. But he could also push your buttons if he thought he could get away with it....and he would..

he was your typical little boy, he loved playing, always the jokester and loved to make people laugh. when he was around 4yrs old he would often walk up to someone and say "let me ask you a joke"...we could never convince him it was "tell us a joke". Austin was in constant motion, always curious, running, jumping and asking questions..forever wanting to know how things worked..anything and everything. Austin was great working with his hands, one day in particular when we lived in Colorado..he had been unusually quiet and busy one day..in his room "working" on something he said...he was all of 4 yrs old...late in the evening he proudly called me to his room to show me a little car he had built from a piece of wood, he had used axles from one of his old model cars, but the most amazing thing he had taken the lightbulbs from 2 small flashlights and wired them on the car, hooked to a 9volt battery so the car would have lights. I asked him how did he know how to do that, he just shrugged his shoulders and said "I dunno, I just do"..He was always so smart, he could look at something and figure out how it was built.

Always full of life, smiling and laughing, he was so proud when he got to be the ringbearer at our wedding when he was 6 yrs old ...one of the classic moments of the day, Austin turned to me and asked how to spell "Benscoter", as he was writing on a napkin after the ceremony. I remember asking him, "Don't you think you need to learn how to spell Blankenship first?" he dropped his pen and said very dramatically, "why no..my name is Benscoter now"...confused I asked "what?", he dropped his head and raised it back up slowly as if talking to a small child.."But Mom we just got married..." we will never forget our recepetion dinner for all the obvious reasons, but especially that one conversation.

Austin was an avid lover of football. He started playing in the 4th grade while attending Brushfork Elementary, Brushfork, WV.. he would play either center or right guard. he would watch the NFL games with his step-father Terry and his brother Corey critiquing what they could do better..he played little league baseball unitl he broke his right arm while letting his younger cousin Kayla teach him how to rollerblade outside his Grandmother Peggy's home,on a small gravel road. The arm in a cast all summer ended his baseball "career", he was all football after that.

Austin travelled with his family all over the country, he lived in not only WV, but also Colorado, and North Carolina. He has seen pretty much all of the country..we have taken numerous road trips coast to coast...he loved taking pictures as we travelled, I think we have 100 pictures of the St. Louis Arch. Sunrises and sunsets fascinated him, especially driving across Kansas and Wyoming, we have many shots of those too. He has been to see the Grand Canyon, the California Rdwoods, Mt. Rushmore...he loved nothing better than a "roadtrip" and looked forward to when he could help with the driving.

Austin was all about family, he loved 4th of July cookouts at his uncle BJ's house with all of his cousins, and was forever talking about the 4th of July we spent at Myrtle Beach in 2001, when the waves rolled and swept away his beach chair, he and his cousins had a blast trying to catch it before it got away. He was very close to all his cousins, Brittany, Courtney, Tiffany, Trey, Kayla and Chelsea were "partners in crime" for many escapades they were involved in. He was looking forward to the next roadtrip slated for this summer back to WV, NC, and SC...gem mining, and the Alpine INN just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. I asked him did he want to move back to NC, he told me "I want to go visit maybe spend the summer or something, but I want to come back here to WA". Austin being so curious and very smart was bored with conventional school, he attended Timberline High School in 2008-2009, but opted to leave and start the new "online high school" being a nightowl like his Mom he felt if he could control the time he went to school his grades would improve.That was not the case, that too was not enough to challenge his busy mind so he was granted permission to test for his GED at the ripe old age of 16 and passed with flying colors....his diploma was "with honors". He was so proud. He attended the summer New Market Skills Center last summer learning construction, which he enjoyed thouroughly because he was working with his hands..he was trying to decide what direction he wanted to go with his education..he aspired to be a chef at one point he enjoyed the Food Networks' Chef Ramsey on Hell's Kitchen, 30minute meals from Racheal Ray, and all the different places Guy Fiero visited...he was very artisitic, was a whiz at computers, photoshop was his favorite. he though at one point he wanted to "specialize' in computer graphic arts and design..but had just decided he didn't want his job to be his former hobby..."What would I do for fun then?" he asked..this was on the trip back from WV when we had attended his Father's funeral. So he announced he had decided he wanted to follow in his uncle BJ's footsteps and become a diesel mechanic....his plans were to start with the auto technician program which included training on the new hybrids..he then wanted to advance to diesel mechanic.

Austin had passed his learners in September and was doing very well driving. He drove the family to Leavenworth, WA on October 9, of this year. He done wonderful minus a small parking snafu...he was so proud he drove through Tacoma, to North Bend around the small loop across Stevens pass to Leavenworth, Wenatchee and Ellensburg and finally back home.

He had been trying to get a job, had put in more than 100 applications, and would often joke about how of course he would "come of age" to work during the worst economy since the depression...he busied himself playing his call of duty online with many friends, he loved his music..Jay-Z, Eminem, Tu-Pac, and Kid Cudi to name a few he was well rounded and loved all types of music in his words "if it's good I have it on my computer". He loved his dogs Chester and Tucker would often opt to "puppy-sit" in lieu of going to the grocery store with Mom and Dad. he loved the newest member of the family "kitty" we had been trying to choose the best name, Austin said "kitty" thats all he listens too. so now it's official I guess.

Austin had an appreciation for life far beyond his 16 years, on a trip with his Aunt Stephaine to Idaho this past April, they had discussed how life was too short to waste on being angry all the time...always the diplomat he was forever trying to help people when they had problems or issues. He was their "voice of reason"..so wise beyond his years...He had told Stephaine that's why we should live life like that Tim McGraw song "Live like you were dying", and he did. Always quick with a smile, the latest joke he heard, his favorite comedians were Jeff Foxworthy and Christopher Titus. He was quite the ladies man too, he loved his "Jor", not sure he ever told her, you could just hear in his voice when he talked about her. Austin had so many facets to his persona, he was everything to everybody, those that never had the pleasure to meet him it is a great loss , because all that were blessed to meet him know what I am talking about, he was one of a kind. There is a whole in universe since the day we lost him that can never be filled.

Austin was not only my baby or my son, he was a great friend. we had weathered some gray days in his early teen years, But he overcome the challenges many young men face during adolescence, and became a prime example how with hard work, and perserverance you can overcome anything. I will miss our evening talks before Terry got home from work, I will miss our disagreements as well. He made me so proud how far he had come..I regret I will never know how far he would have gone...he had such promise.

To say he will be missed is an understatement, he was such an important part of so many peoples lives. We were so blessed to have had him for 16 years, the world is a better place because he was here...I will never understand why GOD called him home. It was a funny saying we had "If God made anything better than him, He kept for himself". And his sister Amber said "GOD must have lost his, and decided he wanted ours". Another conversation he and I had one day not too long ago as we ran errands and he drove the subject somehow came up about funerals. he said "I think BJ (his uncle) has the right idea...when I die I don't want anybody to cry, I want to be cremated, then we all go to a place where everybody has on a white polo, carpenter jeans, favorite cologne,(got to smell good ), new white strings in your all white kicks (because you can't always afford new shoes, but you can always afford new strings), set around, play music, eat pizza, laugh and talk about all the good times we have had. I can't be dealing with no tears...yo, that's wassup." I told him Austin your crazy he said "no man, I am being serial dude..think about it..I won't have to unload the dishwasher anymore..and no more laundry...sweet!" Always my little comedian. I just shook my head and laughed.

The "rule" we have always tried to live by, or saying, we have in pictures, and wall decoration all over our house Austin was the living epitome of... "LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE"

Live life at its fullest

Laugh at the things that don't matter

Love with all that you have and more

He was always saying "Never let them know what your really thinking, just smile and wave boys....just smile and wave"

This!!! IS!!! Austin!!! our "Gentle Giant".