Dr. Sanders Sidney Blakeney

BLAKENEY — Sanders Sidney, 72; born Oct. 24, 1941, Valdosta, Ga.; died Nov. 8, 2013, Tacoma, Wash. Surviving: wife, Bettye (Manier); daughters, Krista Blakeney Mitchell, Laurel, Md.; Kelli Blakeney Robinson, Tacoma, Wash.; brother, Lawrence Blakeney, Valdosta, Ga.; and 5 grandchildren.

After graduating from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Mich., in 1962, Sanders Blakeney interned as a medical technologist at Herman Kiefer Hospital in Detroit, Mich. He decided to pursue his medical education and went on to graduate from Temple University with an M.D. degree in 1975. Blakeney served in the U.S. Army from 1978 as a General Medical Officer before becoming a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Madigan Army Medical Center, For Lewis, Wash. He served his country as Chief Medical Officer at Ft. Irwin, Calif., and was the designated "Physician in Charge" to aide President Ronald Reagan during a scheduled visit to the Army base. Blakeney achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and Service Ribbon.

In 1983, he resigned from military service and joined Stork Associates in Federal Way, Wash., as Stork 6, and provided 30 years of OB/GYN services in the Tacoma/Federal Way communities until he closed his office on Oct. 31, 2013.