Joseph Raymond Bliss, 81, of Corydon, died Sunday, September 24, 2017.  He was born April 5, 1936, in Corydon, to the late Charles Raymond and Savilla Cotner Bliss.  He was a farmer, was currently employed as a grist miller and tour guide at Squire Boone Caverns and Village near Mauckport, was retired from International Harvester and Fire King International both in Louisville, was formerly employed at Boeing in Seattle, Washington, was a dedicated member of the Harrison County 4-H, where he was the coach of the 4-H forestry club team who won state 3 times, was a member of the Valley City Presbyterian Church, the Harrison County Farm Bureau and the Harrison County Cattlemen’s Association, was a volunteer with the Harrison County Repair Affair for many years, was a veteran of the U.S Marines, was a gifted forester and naturalist, and was an avid family historian.   

Survivors include his wife, LaVern Greer Bliss; his sons, Joseph R. Bliss, Jr. of Louisville, John Bliss (Jessica) of Corydon, Jimmy R. Bliss (Stefanie) of Mauckport, and Justin C. Bliss (Emily Heath) of Corydon; his daughter, Julie M. Timberlake (Chris) of Crandall; his brother, Ralph Bliss (Joyce) of Central; his sister, Brenda Bliss (Kenny) of Corydon; and his grandchildren, Ethan Allen Bliss, Jacob Ray Bliss, Caleb Allen Bliss, Benjamin Christopher Timberlake, and Alexa Rae Timberlake.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 28, 2017, at Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home in Corydon.  Rev. Vicki Poole-Adams and Sharon Kutz-Mellem, Ruling Elder, will officiate.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery near Corydon.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and after 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Ethan, Jacob, Caleb, Eric and Mindy Bliss and Jerry Briscoe.  Honorary pallbearers will be Rex Brown, Ted Cotner and Ben Timberlake.

The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made to the Harrison County Community Foundation in memory of Joe Bliss for the benefit of Harrison County 4-H.