Thomas Blaydes

Thomas Hardy Blaydes

September 5, 1930 – February 21, 2019

Thomas Hardy Blaydes, 88, passed away in Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday, February 21, 2019 from multiple organ failure while in hospice care surrounded by loved ones.

Mr. Blaydes was born on September 5, 1930 in Washington, D.C., to the late William and Edna Blaydes.  He graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration.  While there, he played offensive lineman before the football program dissolved. Following graduation, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War.  After the war, he began his career with Ford Motor Company and developed his skills in accounting and finance with Thiokol Chemical Corporation and the accounting firm of Peat, Marwick & Mitchell before joining W.B. Roddenbery Company in Cairo, GA in 1972, where he served as the Vice President of Administration for 24 years. He was fondly known as “Mr. Tom” by those who worked closely with him. Through his devout faith and dedication to the Church, Mr. Blaydes was instrumental as a committee member to bring the first Catholic Church to Grady County in 1975.  The greatest loves of his life were his wife Dottie, his children and grandchildren, and fishing at St. George Island, Florida with friends and family.  He will be remembered as a great storyteller who was always quick with a joke.

Survivors include his loving wife of 66 years, Dorothy Behrens Blaydes; children Geralyn Kaiser of Roswell, Georgia, Peter Blaydes (Stephanie) of Collierville, Tennessee, Diane Bowers (Bruce) of St. Petersburg, Florida, Mary Alexander (Jeff) of Dallas, Georgia, Linda Anderson (Roger) of Melbourne, Florida, Dan Blaydes (Dolly) of Jacksonville, Florida and  Tim Blaydes (Marty) of Roswell, Georgia; grandchildren, Richard (Amanda), LeeAnne (Andy), Kakie, Kevin, Kurt, Tommy, Jake, Rachel, Frank, Camille, Becky, Nick, Coleman and Caitlin; great-grandchild, Andy; and sister, Frances Shewan (William).

He was preceded in death by daughter Donna Mary Blaydes, sons Franklin Gerard Blaydes and Thomas Gerard Blaydes, and granddaughter Callie Marie Anderson.

Funeral services for Thomas Hardy Blaydes, of Jacksonville, FL, are as follows:  Memorial Service at Cypress Village in Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 2:30 p.m.; Visitation at Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida on Thursday, February 28, 2019 from 5 to 7 p.m.; A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Holy Family Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.; and Graveside service and interment at Greenwood Cemetery in Cairo, Georgia on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

The family will receive friends at a reception following the funeral mass at Holy Family Parish Life Center in Jacksonville, Florida and following the Graveside service in Cairo, Georgia at The Church of Grady County at 1400 South Broad Street from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Blaydes' memory to Food for the Poor (www.foodforthepoor.org); Covenant House (www.covenanthouse.org); Community Hospice and Palliative Care (support.communityhospice.com).