Joseph (Joe) Merle Blackburn, 55, of Pendleton, OR, passed away on December 6th of 2021, unexpectedly. Joe was full of life and had an amazing capacity for fun and love that he shared with everyone that he called family or friend. Joe was born on August 16th, 1966 in Seattle, WA. After graduating from Pendleton High School in 1984, Joe went to work at Blue Mountain Lumber and continued to carry on his appreciation and passion of building and working on cars. Joe began his career at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute on January 29th, 2001 and was a valued part of that community until his passing. In 1997, he met Jacqueline Maze and they wed in April of 2002. Joe spent his most cherished times taking vacations with his wife and children, working on cars with his son as well as gathering and loving his family and many friends as much as possible. Joe is survived by his parents; Kenneth and Sharan, his loving wife Jacqueline, his two children; Brittney and Logan Joseph, his two brothers; John and Kenneth and his four sisters; Theresa, Tammy, Sonja and Joey. “Only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint your footprints have left in our hearts”. Come and celebrate Joe’s life with his family at the Roy Raley Room at the Pendleton Roundup Grounds on December 18th at 2PM. There will be food and beverages provided. In lieu of flowers, there will be an account set up at Banner Bank. All proceeds will go to a Scholarship Fund in Joe’s name for the funding for his children's college education.