Carol Blandford

Carol Lee Blandford was born December 25, 1936, in Peoria, Illinois to parents Walter V and Helen (Sommer) McAdoo.

Carol attended the three room Kellar Grade School in Peoria where her three sons graduated. She grew up in the country on High Point Road along with a big extended family; the McAdoos, Sommers and Feys. She loved to recall the Sundays when her grandfather (Poppie) preached at country churches followed by traditional farm dinners.  She began her Christian walk at the Hamilton Street Apostolic Church.  Carol graduated from Peoria Central High School in 1954 and then went out east to Pine Manor Junior College for girls in Welsley, Massachusetts.

Carol transferred to the University of Illinois after one year fortunately because that is where she met her husband, Keith Blandford.  She earned a BS in Education.  Carol was active in Pi Beta Phi Sorority and was honored to be the Chaplain. She and Keith were married August 23, 1958.  After marriage Carol lived in Champaign, Illinois for one year while Keith finished school.

Keith and Carol lived in Peoria, Illinois from 1959 to 1983.  Carol was active in the Junior League of Peoria which included various community activities.  She was on the board of directors of Neighborhood House, volunteered at several hospitals and was a member of the Service League at Methodist Hospital.  Carol and Keith served on the Young Life Board and hosted Young Life at their home as well as Good News Bible Study for young children.  It was in Peoria that she began to create beautiful needlepoint art.  There are many happy memories from this time of raising her family in Peoria....hockey, swimming, fun at the Country Club of Peoria with family and friends, summer vacations at Crystal Lake in MIchigan, and Bradley basketball games to name several.  Carol was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Peoria, singing in the choir and helping with Sunday School.

For two years, Carol lived in Dallas, Texas where she was a member of the Junior League of Dallas. It was here that she had her first serious paying job.  She helped open the Gumps store at the Galleria Mall and had fun with all the beautiful silver. She was active in Bible Study Fellowship and a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church.

In 1985 Keith and Carol moved to Traverse City, Michigan.  She loved God's beauty in nature, as well as the people there.  She loved her church life group and practiced her skill at listening to others.  She did that well. Carol was on the Board of Directors of Community Bible Study. In the beautiful waters of northern Michigan, Keith and Carol discovered boating. They began to travel more and if there was a show or gallery anywhere around, they were at it.  Their church home was Bay Pointe Community Church.

Retiring in 2004, Keith and Carol returned to Dallas, where all their children lived.  It was a huge blessing from God to be with her children, seven grandchildren and great grandchild. She helped Keith pursue his life-long interest in art and photography.  They were members of McKinney Fellowship Bible Church.

Carol truly loved the Lord, her family and friends.  And strangers. It was not unusual for her husband to wonder what was delaying her; and then find out that she was listening to someone she had just met.  She was a great listener.

Carol is survived by her loving husband Keith Blandford; sons Douglas, Gregory and his wife Beth; grandchildren Benjamin and his wife Adelaide, Danielle, Stephen, Mattie, Isaac and is wife Blake, Joshua, and Sarah: great grandchild Robert; daughter-in-law Holly Blandford Peters; nieces Nancy Davis Benson and her husband David, Carrie Davis Utrias and her husband Jeff and their children; sisters-in-law Joyce Johnson and Janice Grutzius and their children.   She was preceded in death by her son Jeffrey Blandford; parents Walter V. McAdoo Jr. and Helen Sommer McAdoo; grandparents Rev. Walter V. McAdoo and Mattie Bell Staley McAdoo, Peter Sommer and Elizabeth Sommer; sister Susan Christine Davis and her husband Harold, and their son Michael.

Private services will be held for the family.

If desired contributions may be made in Carol's memory to Young Life, which played a prominent role in this family. https://younglife.org/give/