Reid Ernest Blackledge, 96, of Carmi died Tuesday, August 18, 2015, at the VA Hospital in Marion, IL. He had been a resident of the Enfield Healthcare Center. Mr. Blackledge’s first career was in a bed factory in St. Louis, MO. He joined the Merchant Marines during WWII. He and his brother, John, were aboard the S. S. George Hawley, when it was torpedoed off the coast of Wolf Rock, England. Reid was awarded a Purple Heart. He ended up “steering the ships” for 27 years. He returned to Carmi and started a partnership, Blackledge Brothers, with his brother John. They worked together as residential and commercial paint contractors for over 30 years.
He married Lauraetta Taylor in the 1940s. Their children, Marietta (Myron) Mueller of Oregon City, OR and Jacqueline Newcombe of Concho, AZ survive. He married Mildred “Millie” Forrester in the 1970s. Millie passed away 7/19/2003. Four of his step daughters survive: Trudy (Allen) Devorak of MO, Theresa (Steve) Baldwin, Hot Springs, AR, Kevin Forrester, IL, Karen (Dennis) Shasteen, Allenhurst, GA and Melodie (Dwayne) Rye, Suffolk, VA. He married Janet Dunning and she passed away 10/3/2007. Her daughter Debbie McDevitt, Fairfield, IL survives.
Mr. Blackledge is also survived by a sister, Rowena Charleville of Bradenton, FL. A brother and sister-in-law, Vernon and Nancy Blackledge of Scottsdale, AZ, a niece Andrea (David) Hays of Norris City, IL, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters, Grace Hamper, Glenna Blackledge, Dorothy Willis, Helen Gatlin and Alma Bielaczyz; six brothers, Homer, Maurice, Carl, Hayward, John and Lloyd.
A visitation and memorial service with military rites will be at noon, October 17, 2015 at Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi. Memorials may be made to White County Senior Citizens and Pets-At-Risk.