Dr. James Bledsoe M.D.

1931 - 2016

Dr. James Bledsoe, M.D., 84, of Cheboygan, Mich. and Alachua, Fla., passed away Friday, July 29 at Hiland Cottage in Petoskey.
 A summer resident of Cheboygan since 2001, and resident of Alachua, Fla. since 2000, Jim was born October 29, 1931 in Orlando, Fla., the son of Lewis and Gertrude (Peeler) Bledsoe.  He grew up in Winter Park, Fla., attended undergraduate school at Duke University, medical school at Tulane University, and served his residency at the University of Mississippi in Jacksonville.   He was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1956-1960 and was stationed at a sonar base in Freising, Germany, serving as the base physician. On July 29, 1989 in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, he married Vicki Proffitt. Jim practiced medicine in Gainesville, Fla. from 1963-1968, and from 1968 until his retirement in 2000, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
 Surviving are his wife, Vicki, three daughters; Beverly Bledsoe of Los Angeles, Calif., Sue (Phil) Garland of Charlottesville, Va., and Tracey (Dave) Rhodes of Blacksburg, Va., two sons, Jason (Kim) Poole of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Jeremy (Natasha) Poole of Lake City, Fla., eight grandchildren; Morgan and Alison Taylor, Peter, Amelia, and Quinn Garland, Phoebe Schuyler, and Will and Jessie Rhodes, a son in law, Sam Schuyler of Charlottesville, Va., one brother, Bill Bledsoe of Orlando, Fla., and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter, Debbie Schuyler.
No services are planned at this time.  Memorials may be made to the Humane Society, or Hiland Cottage in Petoskey. Online condolences may be made at www.stonefuneralhomeinc.com.?The Nordman-Christian Funeral Home of Cheboygan is caring for the family.