Rex Blakeslee

Rex Blakeslee was born Rexford Vernon Blakeslee on May 3, 1931 in Nampa, Idaho to Rexford Noell and Letha Marie (King) Blakeslee. His mother called him “Vernon” and to many of his sister’s family that was his name. His sister, Beverly, lives in Ontario, Oregon.

They moved to Boise, ID when Rex was one. They lived in a third story apartment on Eighth Street where he, at 3 years old, began and ended his acrobatic career when he rode his tricycle off of the balcony. His guardian angel saved him from death although he did ultimately have two surgery's later and suffered back pain all of his life.

His mother, Letha, died from Melanoma cancer when he was seven. They then moved to an apartment above a grocery store in Hyde Park on 13th St. He loved riding his apple box scooter, with an apple box trailer, from store to store saying “Hi” to all of the owners under the watchful eye of his big sister.

He attended Washington Elementary, North Junior High and Boise High School.

Rex tells of walking into his eighth grade class for the first time, from the rear door, and seeing a ray of light shining down on one girl sitting in the middle of the room. He could only see the back of her head. He said to himself, “She’s for me”, and that’s how he met Trudy.

Rex worked laying floor tile, hot roofing and as an electronic parts salesman. This last position may be where his gift of understanding electronics came from. His uncle Guy, who later Rex described as his second father, serviced radio equipment for the police and fire departments. Television was brand new in those days and when people would bring them in for service they would collect in the corner because no one knew how to fix them. Rex needed a job so Uncle Guy said if he could fix a TV he would give him a job. Rex had one working in no time and all of them fixed by the end of the week. Thus began his career.

Rex moved the family, now with Steven, into 720 N Stanley St in 1959 and built “the store” in 1962 which faces Emerald St. across from what is now Emerald Lanes Bowling Alley. In the late 1970’s, with the advent of personal computers, they evolved their business strategy toward that industry and renamed their business, “Commodore Computer Center”. Rex retired in 1993.

Rex was a volunteer all of his life. He and Trudy were well known, well liked and well loved in the Boise community.

Rex’s personal accolades:

Founding member of Boise Better Business Bureau

Member Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue

Member Ada County Aerial Sheriffs Posse

Advanced EMT hospital volunteer – St. Alphonsus Hospital

Private Pilot License

Gathered donated food from Winco Grocery for the church Food Pantry for 35 years.

Rex accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1970. His and Trudy’s faith were the foundation of their family. They attended Central Assembly of God Church at 222 N Latah St.; Pastor Roland Buck. The church then moved to 12000 W Fairview Ave.; Pastor Ted Buck. Finally, he attended Adventure Church at 4495 S Meridian Rd.; Pastor Greg Grigsby.

Rex lived a full and blessed life and went to meet his Lord and Savior and his wife on August 18th, 2024, at the age of 93, with his family by his side. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Rex was preceded in death by his wife Trudy and grandson Christopher. He is survived by his two sons, Donald (Amy), Steven (Dana), and his sister Beverly Webster (Myron). Grandchildren Andrea, Nicole, Zachery, and Brooke. Great grandchildren Mason, Kai, Kona, Zaiden, Conner and Eva. And a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

There will be a graveside service for Rex at Dry Creek Cemetery on Monday, August 26th, at 2 p.m., under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Boise.