Ora E. Blades

SIOUX CITY -- Ora E. Blades, 80, of Sioux City passed away Monday, July 25, 2011, at Westwood Nursing and Rehab Center. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2011 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Online condolences may be posted at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Ora was born July 10, 1931, in Holabird, S.D., the daughter of Wayne and Henrietta (Johnson) LaFurge. She spent her early years growing up in South Dakota. She married Everett W. Blades on Feb. 9, 1950, in Sioux Falls, S.D. He passed away Nov. 22, 1992, in Sioux City. Ora and Everett moved to Sioux City in 1951. Ora worked for Dyna Tech and Sioux Tools. She retired from St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, where she had worked for several years. Ora enjoyed gardening, music, animals, the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and spending time with her family. She was a senior companion for several years. Survivors include her three children, Mickie (Dave) Small of Englewood, Colo., Randall Blades of Sioux City and Leslie (Kent) Van Roekel of Harrisburg, S.D.; five grandchildren, Kari Zarlengo, Angie Cummings, Wayne Blades, Jessica Blades and Shenna Osbourne; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Everett; and a son, Christopher. Pallbearers will be Dave Small, Kent Van Roekel, Ron Cummings, Wayne Blades, Aaron Cummings and Dino Zarlengo.