Person Page

     Alice Marie Blades was born on 7 March 1914 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.^1,3,2 She married first Kenneth Butcher Courtney, son of Charles Courtney and Kitty Mae Butcher, in 1932 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.² She died on 29 September 2008 at her sister Charlotte's home in Drexel, Burke Co., North Carolina, at age 94.^1,3 She was buried at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan. A memorial service was held on 22 November 2008 at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Comstock.¹
     She worked for Shakespeare Corp. in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan,² for Brunswick, and for Portage Central Junior High School.¹ She also served as a senior companion to the elderly¹, and was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Comstock, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, photography, and playing the harmonica.¹
     She and her first husband Kenneth had one known child, Larry B. (b 1934, d bef 29 September 2008).^1,2

     Kenneth Butcher Courtney was born on 31 January 1901 in Bryant, Jay Co., Indiana.¹ He married Alice Marie Blades, daughter of Charles Oran Blades and Frances Deliaha Woodin, in 1932 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 27 January 1967 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 65.¹
     He and Alice had one known child, Larry B. (b 1934, d bef 29 September 2008).^2,1

     George Frank Blades was born on 19 November 1916 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He married Lillian Mary LaValley, daughter of John LaValley and Agnes Miller, on 30 December 1939 in Plattsburgh, Clinton Co., New York.¹ He died on 14 June 1980 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 63.¹ He was buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kalamazoo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹
     He was employed by the Kalamazoo Paper Co. in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He and Lillian had the following known children: George James, Beverly, John, Janice (b 1947), Kathy (b 1950), Robert (b 1952), Charles (b 1953), Terry (b 1954), Susan (b 1955), Barbara (b 1957), David (b 1959). Terry and Susan are listed as twins, but their birth years are listed as different.¹

     Lillian Mary LaValley was born on 28 November 1917 in Atona, New York.¹ She married George Frank Blades, son of Charles Oran Blades and Frances Deliaha Woodin, on 30 December 1939 in Plattsburgh, Clinton Co., New York.¹ She died on 29 August 1996 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 78.¹
     She and George had the following known children: George James, Beverly, John, Janice (b 1947), Kathy (b 1950), Robert (b 1952), Charles (b 1953), Terry (b 1954), Susan (b 1955), Barbara (b 1957), David (b 1959). Terry and Susan are listed as twins, but their birth years are listed as different.¹

     Veida Elizabeth Blades was born on 2 October 1918 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ She died on 2 October 1918 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹

     Verda Mary Cora Blades was born on 2 October 1918 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ She married Egbert Kiewiet.¹ She died on 10 May 1999 in Kalamazoo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 80.¹ She was buried at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹
     She and Egbert had the following known children: Edward, Daniel, Pamela, Thomas.¹

     Egbert Kiewiet was born on 25 September 1915 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.^1,2 He married Verda Mary Cora Blades, daughter of Charles Oran Blades and Frances Deliaha Woodin.¹ He died on 23 May 1971 in Kalamazoo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 55.¹ He was buried on 26 May 1971 at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.²
     He served in the U. S. Army during World War II as an MP.² After the war he worked for the Kalamazoo Twp. Offices in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.² He was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Comstock, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.²
     He and Verda had the following known children: Edward, Daniel, Pamela, Thomas.¹

     Effie Hazel Blades was born on 6 February 1921 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ She married second Edward Hollenbeck, son of Jesse Hollenbeck and Dora Alice Parker, in 1945 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ She died on 9 January 1988 in Comstock Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 66.¹ She was buried on 11 January 1988 at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹
     She and her second husband Edward had the following known children: Carl (adopted, b 1940), James Blades (adopted, b 1943), Judith Ann (b 1953).¹

     Edward Hollenbeck was born on 13 April 1921.¹ He married Effie Hazel Blades, daughter of Charles Oran Blades and Frances Deliaha Woodin, in 1945 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 3 May 1973 in Comstock Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 52.¹
     He served in the infantry during World War II, was captured by the Germans, and held as a prisoner of war at the Stalag 11B Fallingbostel Prussia work camp.²
     He and Effie had the following known children: Carl (adopted, b 1940), James Blades (adopted, b 1943), Judith Ann (b 1953).¹

     James Edward Blades was born on 20 September 1922 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.^2,1 He died on 17 August 2001 at age 78.² He was buried on 21 August 2001 at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.³
     He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II, in Normandy, northern France, and the Rhineland in Germany.³ After the war he was employed by the Georgia Pacific Paper Co. in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Comstock, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.³

     Bernice Lydia Blades was born on 4 April 1924 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.^1,2 She married second William Henry Miner, son of Bert Henry Miner and Fannie (?), about 1942 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ She married third Ernest Robert Baker on 13 September 1958 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.^1,2 She died on 19 October 2004 at Braswell’s Yucaipa Valley Convalescent Hospital in Yucaipa, San Bernardino Co., California, at age 80.² She was buried at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.²
     She and her second husband William had three children, Patricia Ann (b 1942, d 1942), William Henry (b 1945) and Linda Lou (b 1948).^1,2 She and her third husband Ernest had two known children, Ernestine (d at age 5) and Ernest.^1,2

     William Henry Miner was born on 18 November 1918 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He married Bernice Lydia Blades, daughter of Charles Oran Blades and Frances Deliaha Woodin, about 1942 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 30 July 1957 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 38.²
     He and Bernice had three children, Patricia Ann (b 1942, d 1942), William Henry (b 1945) and Linda Lou (b 1948).^1,2

     Ernest Robert Baker was born on 12 June 1929 in Oshtemo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.² He married Bernice Lydia Blades, daughter of Charles Oran Blades and Frances Deliaha Woodin, on 13 September 1958 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.^1,2 He died on 20 September 2012 in Loma Linda, San Bernardino Co., California, at age 83.² He was buried at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.²
     He and Bernice had two known children, Ernestine (d at age 5) and Ernest.^1,2

     Charles Ray Blades was born on 13 May 1926 in Oshtemo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 11 September 1926 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, from a "sudden heart convulsion from intestinal indigestion."¹

     Charlotte May Blades was born on 13 May 1926.^2,1 She died on 9 August 2007 in Drexel, Burke Co., North Carolina, at age 81.^2,3