Blaise Mitchell Reader Sr.

Blaise Mitchell Reader Sr., 74, passed Saturday, June 17, 2023, after a long illness. Blaise was born December 6, 1948, in Rome, NY. Blaise left high school and joined the military. After joining the Marines in November 1967, Blaise served two years in Vietnam and was involved in 18 major battles. He is a recipient of numerous awards including the purple heart, bronze medals and a Navy achievement Medal. For his unnerving valor his name is with Quantico in Langley, VA. Corporal Reader left the military in 1973. After returning from active duty, Blaise and his best friend from high school, Dave Patrick, made their way to the Ohio Valley and Blaise settled in Pike County. There Blaise married and had four children that made him very proud. Blaise went back to school and received his GED in 1983 and earned an AA degree in Business Management. He found true love and married Karen Horton of Brooklyn, IN June 30, 2000. Blaise lived a joyful life full of fun and adventure while raising his children. He was quite the renaissance man working as a truck driver, small engine repairman, welder, worked as a guard for 13 years at CCI, taught self-defense at Trooper Academy and was a building supervisor. All the while enjoying fishing, deer hunting and mushroom hunting. He had great faith, loved God and is known and loved by many in this area. He was saved and baptized at Wakefield Freewill Baptist Church. Without ever playing an instrument God gave Blaise the ability to play the bass guitar. Blaise loved and served God with a great testimony in the way he lived and shared his life. He is survived by his wife, Karen; his children: Tina Kauffman (Chris), Blaise Reader Jr. (Mendy), Brian Reader (Alicia), Charles Reader, and their mother Brenda Reader Erb, Rosetta Houchin and Marcia Peters. Surviving siblings include Brenda Bacik of PA, George Reader of NY, James P. Reader of NY and Mary Beth Mead of NY. Grandchildren include Andrew Adams, Braiden Yates, Kindal Reader (great-grandson Holden Kellough), Blaise Reader III, Brittney Reader, Bailey Reader, Blake Reader, Brylon Reader, Kaylea Zimmer, Charles Reader Jr., Elijah Flanery (great-grandson Eli Flanery), Casey Crabtree, Sierra Simmons and Alex Boyd. Preceded in death by great-granddaughter Roselynn Flanery, his brother, Dennis of NY, sister Ellen Naum of NY, and his parents George S. Reader and Elizabeth R. Mitchell-Reader.

Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday June 21, 2023 at the Cox Burkitt Funeral Home in Beaver, Ohio. Private funeral services and burial will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.                                          

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