Dawn Blades

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Dawn Elizabeth Blades (Virgil) (Sauve), age 72, of Midland, on August 27, 2022.

Dawn was born June 14, 1950, to the late Percy Dewey Blades and Ruey Elizabeth Freeman of Gladwin County. The youngest of her family, she grew up in Beaverton with one older brother, Donald; and three sisters, Ruth, Norma and Mary. Dawn thoroughly enjoyed taking care of the animals on the family farm, as well as helping out with her family's business at the Dale Store.

Dawn graduated from Beaverton High School in 1968, and soon afterwards married Douglas Virgil, with whom she had two children, Chad and Sue. She was very active in her church and supported her children's many school activities. After her children graduated from high school, Dawn found fulfillment working as a teacher's aide to special education students at Dow High School, as well as being a nurse's aide for the Council on Aging.

Dawn was a strong woman, with a gentle soul, who faced every challenge in her life with courage and dignity. Kindhearted and compassionate, she never met an animal she didn't love; throughout her life, she was always surrounded by a menagerie of dear pets. Dawn enjoyed gardening and being outdoors but was particularly fond of the beach and collecting shells along the shore. She was a big fan of music, and could often be found listening to Elvis, Marty Robbins or the Statler Brothers while going about her day. There was nothing she loved more than a big family get-together, whether it was a cookout at the family farm or vacations spent at Chief Lake. Dawn could always be counted on to make plenty of food for a crowd and was known in the family for her baked beans and meatloaf. Holidays were also very special to her, and the annual baking tradition spent with her cousin Carol and her sister Mary, was a much-anticipated highlight of every year.

Dawn especially adored all things to do with children. Whether it was through church camp, after-school programs or her children's friends raiding her kitchen's snack cabinet, Dawn could often be found providing sustenance and support to young people through her offer of a warm and loving home, some gentle encouragement, a bit of kind advice, or of course, a home-cooked meal. Two relationships in particular, those with Jay Connelley and Eddie Ducham, were very dear to Dawn and held a special place in her heart.

In addition to her parents, Dawn was preceded in death by her brother, Donald James Blades; sister, Mary Ellen Blades; and brother-in-law, William "Bill" Maxwell. She is survived by her son, Chadwick (Tina) Virgil; and daughter, Susan (Josh) Ward; grandsons, Emmett and Finnegan Ward; sisters, Ruth Maxwell and Norma Maxwell; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services took place on Thursday, September 1, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 West Wheeler Street, Midland, with Pastor William Greiner officiating. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until the time of service, and burial will follow at Dale Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a memorial to Shelterhouse of Midland. Dawn Blades Blades