Michael Ray "Mike" Bledsoe

1953-2009

Michael Ray "Mike" Bledsoe, 55-year-old retired employee for Folger Coffee Company, passed away at his home in Howe Friday morning, Jan. 30, 2009.
Services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2009 in the Waldo Funeral Home Chapel. Coach Steve Simmons of Howe and Pastor Roger Tidwell of First Baptist Church of Howe will officiate, and the burial will follow at Elliott Cemetery west of Van Alstyne.
Mike was born Aug. 30, 1953 in Sherman, the son of Ray Bledsoe and Georgia Jones Bledsoe. He attended Washington Elementary in Sherman before moving to Howe and graduating from Howe High School in 1971. He played football for the Howe Bulldogs and in 1970 he was on the team that went farther in the state playoffs than any other Bulldog team, regional champions. He also attended Grayson County College two years and married Sharon Hill on July 13, 1991 in Whitewright.
Mike was employed at Burlington Industries and Texas Instruments before starting a 25-year career as a technician for Folger Coffee Co. from 1981 to 2006. He was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, coaching Little League baseball in Howe and earning several trophies as a sharp shooter as evidence of his skill in target shooting. He also loved to barbecue, which was enjoyed by family and friends. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Howe.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Bledsoe of Howe; daughter, Michaela Rene Bledsoe of Howe; sister, Sherry Allison and husband Steve of Howe; father, Ray Bledsoe of Howe; two nephews, Eric Allison and Troy Allison. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1984, Georgia Bledsoe.
Pallbearers will be David Ellis, J. Mark Wright, James Hood, Troy Allison, Eric Allison and Joe Freeman.
The family will receive friends from 2 -4 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Waldo Funeral Home.
The online guest register can be signed at www.waldofuneralhome.com.