Trudy Blakeslee

Trudy Blakeslee was born Gertrude Hormell Baird on March 25 ^th 1932 in Berea, Kentucky to Theodore and Vivian Baird. She has a sister, Ruth and a brother, Paul.

They lived in Saint Petersburg, Fl when Trudy was in Kindergarten and 1 ^st grade. The family then moved to Boise, Id where she attended Longfellow Grade School, Junior High School and Boise High School.

Trudy met her husband to be at Boise High School. He said she had such good grades they allowed her to be a hall monitor. She also was in charge of selling War Bonds for the school.

Following her graduation, she worked for the Crippled Children’s Service and traveled the state giving seminars and information to those families with crippled children. At the age of 18, following World War II, she became the first secretary hired for the Office of Price Stabilization for the state of Idaho. She became very skilled at typing and shorthand.

She married Rex Blakeslee on October 23, 1950. In 1951 Rex started ‘Rex’s Radio Repair’. Trudy became the ‘Office Manager’ side of the business which continued through the many changes of their electronics sales and service businesses. The other businesses were: Blakeslee Radio and TV, Blakeslee TV Sales and Service, and Commodore Computer Center. From 1962 their business was on Emerald Ave across from what is now Emerald Lanes Bowling Alley. They were original members of the Boise Better Business Bureau.

Trudy and her mother Vivian were members of the Bethel Assembly of God Church at North 21 ^st and Alturas Street in Boise. She was also proud to serve on her high school graduation reunion committee until her passing. For many years she was dispatcher for Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue and Ada County Aerial Sheriffs.

Trudy and Rex loved their mountain home and property in Clear Creek Estates off of Grimes Creek on Hwy 21. She designed their home and they built it themselves for their retirement.

Trudy fought a brave battle against cancer and passed on to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 27th 2021, at the age of 89, with her family by her side.

She is survived by her husband Rex and her two sons, Donald (Amy) and Steven (Dana). Her sister Ruth Murphy and brother Paul Baird (Linda). Grandchildren Andrea, Nicole, Zachery, Brooke and Christopher. Great grandchildren Mason, Kai, Kona, Zaiden, Conner and Eva. And a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was loved dearly.

There will be a graveside service for Trudy at Dry Creek Cemetery on Monday, October 4 ^th , at 2 p.m., under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Boise.