Here's Chet's Obit:
Chester ‘Chet’ Daymon Bledsoe, Jr.
Chester “Chet� Daymon Bledsoe, Jr., 59, a longtime resident of Grays Harbor and former Lumber Yard Foreman at Levee Lumber, died at his home with his family around him on Friday evening, Feb. 9, 2007, following a short battle with cancer.
Chet was born on June 8, 1947, in Venice, Calif., to Chester D. Sr. and Francis (Benham) Bledsoe. His family moved to Hoquiam when he was 16, and he graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1965. He joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Bauer in 1966-67, and then the U.S.S. Uhlmann in 1968, as a Gunners Mate during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged and moved to Westport, where he worked as a Commercial Fisherman until 1971.
It was during this time that he met and later married Raydean Ann Wilson on Dec. 19, 1970, in Aberdeen. She resides at the family home in Montesano.
In 1971, they moved to Canoga Park, Calif., and then to Simi Valley, Calif., where he worked for Andrews Lumber until 1977, when they moved to Montesano. Chet worked for ITT Rayonier on Moon Island from 1977 until 1982. Chet then went to work for Bayview Lumber which later became Levee Lumber in Hoquiam as a truck driver and proceeded to work his way up to yard foreman.
Chet retired in 1997, after he was diagnosed with Acoustic Neuroma, a brain tumor. This didn’t get Chet down; he accepted it and decided to live his life the best he could. Chet got active in the Acoustic Neuroma Association, becoming CO-Leader of the Washington State Chapter. He was always there to encourage others as they received their diagnoses, be it England, Australia or Eastern Washington. He kept an upbeat spirit and passed it on to others.
Chet was a man of his word. If he promised you, he’d do it. Chet also loved his grandson, Aaron, very much. The two of them were inseparable, where one was the other was there too. He liked fishing, clamming, road trips and being outdoors or on the beach.
Chet is survived by his wife of 36 years, Raydean Bledsoe of Montesano; a son, Damon Bledsoe of Auburn; two daughters, Lisa Bledsoe of Everett, and Amy Bledsoe of Montesano; a grandson, Aaron Bledsoe; and Chet’s best friend, Steve Beardslee of Hoquiam. Chet was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Karina Bledsoe; a sister, Donna Bledsoe; and his parents, Francis and Chester Bledsoe, Sr.
A private inurnment was held on Feb. 23, 2007, at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Covington, Wash., with full military honors.
A celebration of Chet’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2007, at the Montesano City Hall, 2nd floor.
The family asks that donations be made to a college fund for Chet’s grandson, Aaron Bledsoe, at any Sterling Savings Bank under the name of Aaron Bledsoe.
A card of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at
www.fernhillfuneral.com.
Arrangements are by:
Fern Hill Funeral Home
of Aberdeen
