Connie M. Blakesley age 1 1/2 in 1942. Holding her is her mother Alice Bond Blakesley age 28. At right Connie’s big brother Richard age 8. Looks like he’s unhappy about something. What could it be ?

Connie Blakesley age 18 in 1958

Connie Muriel was born in Canandaigua New York December 4 1940. She is the 2nd child of Charles W. & Alice M. Bond Blakesley. A family story claims her father drew the stone to build the big house on Parrish St. across from Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua. This was done to pay the doctor who owned the place. Doctors name was E.C. Merrill.

        About a year or so after after her parents divorced in Dec. 1944, Connie at age 5 went to live with her father & step-mother. This was so her mother could go to work. Her brother Richard [the author] stayed with their mother. He was old enough [age 11] where he spent most of his non school time with his grandparents Homer & Lucy Blakesley who still lived across the road. Richard & Connie’s father lived less than a mile south of their mothers place on NYS Route 247. Just one big happy family !

Connie started school in Sept. 1946. straight into the first grade. The school was then called Gorham Central & is located in the village of Gorham.

Above, right is Connie in March 1947. On the bottom of the original photo her mother wrote “Miss Primp”.

        Around 1950 when she was in the filth grade she transferred to Middlesex Valley Central school near Rushville NY. She graduated from there in 1958. Both this school & the one in Gorham were “all in one”. That is they held grades one thru twelve. The schools are now consolidated & known as Marcus Whitman. The original buildings are now used for elementary grades. 

Keith Champlin & Connie Blakesley were married June 28 1958 at the Methodist Church in Rushville NY, Rev. Frank Anderson preforming the ceremony.

The reception was held at the home of the bride’s father located at #4762 NYS Route 247.

The wedding party from left to right: Best man, Fred Hopkins, Keith, Connie & Mrs. Richard [Natalizia] Blakesley, Matron of Honor.

Their first home was 513 Liberty St. Penn Yan NY. They later move to Sid White Rd. in Guyanoga Town of Jerusalem Yates Co. NY. Still later they moved to Keith’s family home on Champlin Rd. in Jerusalem.

Below is Connie’s third grade photo at Gorham Central 1948/49. She is 4th from left in the 2nd row.

Above is Connie about age 6 months with father Charles, age 30, mother Alice, age 27. & brother Richard , age 7. Photos take in summer of 1941 at family home now #4496 NY 247 at intersection with Lake to Lake Rd. in Town of Gorham Ontario Co. NY.

For more about parents, see LINK  CHARLES & ALICE

Over the years George & Connie lived in various places in Yates Co. N Y. First on North Main St. in Rushville. Then they remodeled a home on Railroad Ave. in Rushville. Next they built a new home on Emerson Lake off Upper Hill Rd. , Middlesex NY. Then they moved back to Rushville, residing on Castle St. & latter on Warren St. Next they built a new home back on Upper Hill Rd. Around 2009 they sold out & started RVing. Recently [2012] they purchased a home in Florida where they will spend the winters & will camp out in NY during the summers. Still looking for a place where the natives get up in the morning & say: “ Damn, not another nice day !”

     Connie & George are now [2012] retired. George spent most of his working life as an over the road truck driver with one term as Highway Superintendent for the Town of Potter Yates Co. NY.

     Connie worked at various jobs over the years, Early on she worked at Caruso’s restaurant in Canandaigua NY alone side her mother, Alice. She worked as bus driver for Marcus Whitman School District for many years. She also drove tractor trailer cross country with George for a few years. She worked as a home health aid & with the mentally challenged at Abbey Industries.