It is with a heavy heart that we inform the community that a local hero, Lee Blackmon of Animal Haven by the Sea passed away yesterday December 18th.
We are respecting the privacy of the family about sharing any information, and if you have questions, stories about Lee to share, would like to support Animal Haven or donations feel free to reach out to the Tillamook County Pioneer at editor@tillamookcountypioneer.net and we will put in contact with family representatives. Or see below for opportunities to come together with community at Rising Hearts Studio, Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church and other community healing gatherings.
Once arrangements have been made, we will share more information, until then if you would like to honor Lee and the work that he did an account has been set up the Lee Blackmon Foundation at the First Security Bank in Manzanita to assist his family with expenses, continue to feed the animals at the rescue and provide support for the family during this difficult time. For more information or questions email to theleeblackmonfoundation@gmail.com. All you need to do is go in and say you’d like to make a deposit or you can go to Nehalem Animal Healing Clinic.
Thank you all for your continued support for Lee’s wife, Malia and his family, the volunteers at Animal Haven, and all of you in the community.
Rising Hearts Studio in downtown Nehalem will continue to host a respite space for community members to gather daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Come share stories about Lee and come together to acknowledge the amazing contribution this man made to our community. From coaching soccer for our kids to caring for animals and their people, Lee gave 200% of his heart to every person and animal that he met. We are all so blessed and lucky to have had this time in his presence.
Now, it’s important that we honor him by taking care of those most important to him — his community — all of us.
At Rising Hearts today, we laughed and cried and shared.
Mostly, we are heartbroken about another lost life. Please if you or someone you know is struggling there is help and hope – call 988 or the local crisis line at 503-842-8201 or 800-962-2851.
Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church is grieving the passing of our beloved brother, Lee Blackmon who passed unexpectedly yesterday. Lee had a special passion for animals and started Animal Haven. He was integral to our community.
If lighting a candle helps you to pray or meditate, please drop in to the church (36050 10th St., Nehalem) tomorrow, December 20, from 9am to noon. You can light a candle, meditate, or pray with a pastor or by yourself in the church sanctuary.
From Lynda Chick – “Today I feel the weight of grief and sadness as I gathered with community to hold each other and come to grips with the tragic death of a beloved community member who served tirelessly and uplifted everyone he encountered.”