On Dec. 26, 2025, at the age of 97, Joe Sharp Blaylock died in Round Rock, surrounded by his family.
Joe was born in Granger, the youngest child of seven to Harvey Charles Blaylock and Jettie Vesti (Raby) Blaylock. He moved to Austin when he was 4 years old.
As a young boy in school, he picked cotton, sold newspapers and magazines, rode his bicycle from East Austin to the Brykerwood area, where he was employed by a grocery store and delivered groceries. As a teenager, he worked in a drug store as a soda jerk. He also worked at a power plant and as a cab driver.
Joe began his career in the construction industry as a carpenter’s helper at age 16. He worked his way up and learned everything about the trade. He worked with his tools as a carpenter’s apprentice and became a master carpenter. He worked on many big jobs as a supervisor of crews and a project foreman.
In the early 1960s, he became a construction estimator and worked for several general contractors. In 1975, he started his own estimating company until his retirement in 1992. One job he was particularly proud of was estimating the remodeling of the Texas Capitol building. This was about a $275 million job in the late 1980s.
While still a teenager, Joe pitched for the city of Austin Major A fast-pitch softball league team sponsored by Safeway. He taught himself how to pitch and was proud to have developed his technique with several pitches. He was especially pleased with the way he delivered the rise pitch. He played against several great pitchers at the time, including Lefty Kreig, Buddy Holstrom, Raymond Culp and Jim Henry.
He also loved the game of golf and played with the best, winning many tournaments. In 1970, he played in the University of Texas Scholarship Tournament and won first place. His foursome won first place in the 1977 Associated General Contractors tournament, and he won the longest drive trophy in the 1980 tournament, with his foursome winning second place. He enjoyed many rounds of golf with his father-in-law, Loy Rice, at the Hancock Park Golf Course in Lampasas. He also enjoyed many years of hunting on the Llano County deer lease with Loy and Modena Rice.
Joe married Wilma Rice Boultinghouse of Lampasas on July 23, 1970. He and Wilma, and her children formed a family and lived in the Austin area.
Joe was preceded in death by his siblings Walter James (“Jimmie”), Elsie Earl, Anne Erie, Norma Mae, Harvey Cleveland (“HC”) and Clara Maude (“Pennie”).
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Wilma Rice Blaylock of Pflugerville; his daughter, Brenda Nichols and husband Scott of San Saba; his son, Bradney Boultinghouse and wife Brenda of the Houston area; his granddaughter, Lissa Nichols of Lampasas; his grandson, Wesley Boultinghouse of Tennessee; and his greatgrandson, Samuel Morris of Lampasas. He is also survived by his sister-inlaw and brother-in-law, Clara (Rice) and Andy Stockton of Austin; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Joe often said he felt blessed to have traveled in 38 of the 50 United States, including Alaska. He and Wilma also traveled to Mexico City, the Caribbean, Europe and crossed Texas many times. In addition to travel and golf, Joe had many interests, including camping, hunting, reading, woodworking, refinishing furniture, working crossword puzzles in ink and enjoying time with his family.
A man of deep faith, Joe enjoyed all the old hymns. He had a beautiful voice and knew the words by heart. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Lampasas.
A visitation will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m., with a graveside service to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.
