July 31

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

David Thomas Spayde 1933-2013

David was the son of Georgianna Thomas and Paul Spayde.

I don't have any adult pictures of Georgianna -- unless she is among the group of unidentified photos from the Thomas side of the family, which is highly likely. There is an unidentified young girl in many of them.

Georgianna Thomas was the daughter of Roy and Mabel Thomas.

Roy was the older brother of my grandfather Bill Thomas. 

(Roy was 18 years old when Grandpa was born, and there was an older brother Clarence. There was a 9 year gap between Clarence and the next child, Effie. I actually didn't know about these two oldest brothers when I was growing up. I was only aware of the four younger siblings. My grandfather was the youngest of the six.) 

So Georgianna would have been my father's first cousin, and David was her son.

David Thomas Spayde's obituary:

David Thomas "Sam" Spayde, age 80, passed away on November 15, 2013 at Spectrum Health, Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. He grew up in Paw Paw, MI. After graduating from Paw Paw High School, he received a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degrees from Western Michigan University. He was active in Tau Kappa Epsilon, Men's Judicial Board, and R.O.T.C. He served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in 1958. In 1959, he began a 32-year teaching career at Kelloggsville School System in Wyoming, MI. Spending summers at the family cottage in Bay View (Petoskey), he was Director of the Bay View Recreation Club. He was an active member of Second Congregational United Church of Christ for over 50 years. He was always quick with a joke or a cheerful word. He had the ability to celebrate triumphs over his everyday health challenges. His sense of humor was legendary. He had a great love for his family and friends. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Mary Blandford Spayde, and his daughters, Betsey Spayde of Grand Rapids and Carolyn (Kurt) Krahulik of Lansing. He was proud of his grandchildren, Rachel and Mitchell Krahulik. Also surviving are his brother, Richard Paul Spayde and sisters-in-law, Jane Spayde, Laura Higgins and Carla Blandford. He loved his nieces and nephews. The family thanks Dr. Gary Humphries, for his extra special care throughout many years. In lieu of flowers, please consider gifts to Second Congregation Church UCC, Bay View Association, or the Blandford Nature Center. Visitation will be Thursday, November 21 at Second Congregation Church from 6:30-8 PM. Celebration of Life at the church located at 525 Cheshire Dr. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505 at 11 AM on Friday, November 22, 2013.