Obituary: Duke Bledsoe – Bolivar, Tennessee
Mr. Bledsoe passed from this life on Tuesday afternoon, August 23, 2022, at Baptist Hospital in Memphis.
The son of the late Jack and Nell Rose Bledsoe, he was born in Humboldt, Tennessee and lived there while a young man. He married Anna Laura Garrett on November 2, 1963, and shortly thereafter, moved to Bolivar where he resided for over 55 years. He was employed as comptroller for Harmon Automotive for 28 years and retired as an accountant with CCA. In his leisure time, Duke enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, “tinkering” in his wood shop and traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains, especially Cades Cove. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Bolivar and volunteered with the Loaves & Fishes program.
Mr. Bledsoe was an active and faithful member of the Bolivar First United Methodist Church. It was there he sang regularly during services, was part of the Methodist Men’s Club, was active in the church’s wheelchair ramp outreach, and the Reelfoot Rural Ministries. He had served on several church boards and committees, as well.
His family cherishes the moments when he would show his “silly” side, something not everyone got to see. They characterize his impact on their family with such adjectives as faithful, charitable, adoring, talented, silly, devoted, fatherly, steadfast, gentle, and loving.
He leaves his wife of 58 years, Anna Laura Bledsoe of Bolivar; son, Gary (Stephanie) Bledsoe of St. Charles, Missouri; daughters, Beth (Johnny) Fortune of Bolivar, Laura Bledsoe of Knoxville, and Meggan (Dave) Sharp of Trussville, Alabama; and six grandchildren, Jack Bledsoe, Anderson Fortune, Harper Ramadan, Paris Ramadan, Rosemary Sharp, and Samuel Sharp.
Memorials may be sent to the Bolivar First United Methodist Church.
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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