Wayne LeRoy Blades

Wayne LeRoy Blades

Wayne LeRoy Blades, age 94, of Billings, Mo., died August 1, 2011 in his home with his family beside him and on the farm he had worked his entire life. Born January 7, 1917 to Roy and Lissa (Mooneyham) Blades of Republic, Mo., Wayne was forced to leave school at an early age to help work on the family farm. He continued working as a farmer the rest of his life and also drove a dairy route making the acquaintance of many area farmers.

Wayne married Imogene (Rodgers) on January 4, 1942 after meeting her at a church revival held at New Hope near Chesapeake, Mo. He worked briefly at the Boeing Aircraft factory in Wichita, Kan. before being drafted for service in the United States Navy during World War II. Upon returning from the war in 1945, Wayne and Imogene reared three children in their home in Marionville, Mo. He also continued farming as previous generations had before him, later acquiring the family farm located in Billings in 1968 where he and Imogene built a home. After being self-employed driving an area dairy route for Mid-America Dairymen, Wayne retired to enjoy working on his farm, a recently recognized 2011 Missouri Century Farm, where he resided with his wife Imogene "Jeanie" until his last day on earth. In recent years, Wayne and Imogene attended the First Baptist Church in Republic. Wayne will be greatly missed and remembered dearly as a strong, hardy man with broad shoulders, a good husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather - and who feared and loved his Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Lissa Blades; two brothers, Drextle and Jimmie Blades; and a sister, Clara Blades Parker.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 69 years, Imogene Blades; three children, Sharon Evans (husband Lefty) of Kimberling City, Mo.; Larry Blades of Springfield, Mo.; and Tony Blades (wife Gail) also of Springfield, Mo.; three grandchildren, Greg Evans (wife Angie), Tonya Blades, and Rhonda Brown (husband Parke); five great-grandchildren, Morgan, Sydney, and Blake Evans, Millie and Blades Brown; and three sisters, Cleo Batson, Republic, Dorothy Swinney, Azel, Texas, and Thelma Dorrell, Republic. He also leaves behind many other family, including several nieces and nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 4, 2011 in Meadors Funeral Home, Republic. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, in the funeral home. Burial, with Military Honors, will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Republic.

Contributions may be made to Oxford Hospice.

Online condolences may be made at www.meadorsfuneralhome.com.