Carrol Martin Blakeman

Carrol Martin Blakeman was born March 2, 1921, at Edgerton, Kansas. He was the son of Golder and Mabel (Rohe) Blakeman. From 1939 to 1951, Carrol lived in the Gardner, Wellsville, and Edgerton, Kansas areas. In 1951, he moved to the Franklin County, Kansas area, where he made his home until his death Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at the age of eighty-one years. Carrol attended Edgerton High School with the class of 1938. He was a farmer and a carpenter. In the 1950`s, he worked for Cornelius Construction of Paola and Green Construction of Lawrence, building commercial and school buildings in Franklin, Miami and Douglas Counties. During the Vietnam War, he worked at the Sunflower Ammunitions Plant in DeSoto. Prior to retirement in 1982, he worked for Franklin County as bridge superintendent for fifteen years. He attended First Southern Baptist Church in Ottawa. Carrol had a lifelong love of horses and mules. As a young person, he would drive miles to ride a horse that hadn`t been ridden. In retirement, he belonged to a mule rider`s club and owned a team of parade mules. The mules and his wagon are now owned by Justin Cottingham, who graciously provided them for today`s service at the cemetery. On March 8, 1939, Carrol was united in marriage with Avis C. Moody at Wellsville, Kansas. She preceded him in death on April 20, 1999. He is also preceded in death by his parents; sister, Shirley Danner; brother, Wyman Blakeman; and, grandson, James W. Gilchrist. He is survived by two daughters, Nancy Gilchrist of Topeka, Cynthia Hodges and her husband, Verlin, of Houston, Texas; son, Neil Blakeman and his wife, Helen, of Paola; two sisters, Ruby Coday of Osage City, Lavone Mann of Des Moines, Iowa; five grandsons, Galen Blakeman, Vince Hodges, Matt Hodges, Scott Gilchrist, Bret Miller; three granddaughters, Michele Kibler, Annette Myers, Brenda Christy; six great-grandsons, Brent Gilchrist, Joshua Myers, Andrew Myers, Jeffery Kibler, Sam Christy, Zephry Hodges; and, two great-granddaughters, Ashley Myers and Megan Kibler. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2002. OFFICIATING CLERGY: Rev. Martin McPheron. IN STATE: Mr. Blakeman will lie in state at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 5:00 p.m. today (Wednesday) to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends 7 to 8:00 Thursday evening. CEMETERY: Valley Brook Cemetery, south of Overbrook. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to First Southern Baptist Church, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.