William Blakemore

William (Bill) was born in Flint, Michigan on December 26, 1942, to James Douglas and Helen Marie (Bentley) Blakemore. Bill was born during WWII and at the time his father was stationed in the Philippines. He lived with his mother and grandparents in Flint and did not meet his father until age 3. He developed a very strong and loving bond with his grandparents and always enjoyed helping them with chores around their home, until his family moved to Harbor Springs in 1958. Just a few short months after moving North, his father died at the age of 36, a few weeks shy of Bill's 16th birthday. Bill quickly shouldered the additional responsibilities of helping his pregnant mother navigate raising a younger sister and brother, even driving her to the hospital for the birth of his youngest brother. Bill attended Harbor Springs High School where he met and fell in love with June Miller and soon they became inseparable and remained so until death. Bill took on a summer job helping to run the Pointer, a private passenger boat for Harbor Point. After his high school graduation, Bill attended one semester of landscaping school at MSU but left to join the Navy, where he was a cook on the USS Long Beach, a nuclear-powered missile cruiser. He was onboard the USS Long Beach when it accompanied the USS Enterprise (the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) during the Bay of Pigs. While on the USS Long Beach, they also joined the USS Enterprise and USS Bainbridge as a convoy that sailed around the world. Bill had many exciting tales to tell about that experience. He was praised very highly for his baking skills, especially bread making abilities, even receiving compliments from Ronald Reagan, who was a guest on board and visited his bakery. Bill and June were married on a leave from the Navy in 1962. Following his time in the Navy, Bill returned to Harbor Springs and started working for Walstrom Marine. He specialized in painting and varnishing boats and then became well-respected and very skilled at repairing fiberglass boats. He retired from Walstrom's in 2016, at which time he was honored by Walstrom's and also inducted into the Michigan Boating Industries Association Hall of Fame for more than 50 years of service in the boating industry. He had a reputation for "being meticulous and a masterful artist with an eye for perfection." Raising three daughters also found him volunteering as a softball coach during their school years. Following his retirement, Bill was a faithful helper at June's Hair Salon, often picking up and bringing June's customers to the shop, if they were unable to drive themselves. He also lovingly cared for his brother-in-law, Ty Miller, who had become homebound, until Ty's death. From the time he was a young boy until his death, Bill was a caretaker of family and friends. Always willing to lend a hand and never turned his back on the responsibilities of family. In his last years, he was a constant and loving caretaker for June during her battle with Louie Body Dementia. All who knew Bill and June, witnessed that they were always together, holding hands and never parted without a kiss and a I-love-you. Their love story endured 61 years that included the joy of raising their three daughters, as well as welcoming and loving each of their grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Along with the joy came the deep pain of losing their daughter, Lora, after her long battle with breast cancer. Bill's greatest joys were his family and friends, and being in nature. He especially loved hunting, fishing, and camping.