Gerald Emmett Blood

Gerald Emmett Blood, fourth generation owner and operator of Blood Orchards, passed away on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. He was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1932 to Emmett and Connie Blood. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jodie Reay Blood, his children Jennifer (Julie) Blood of Phoenix, Arizona, Lizanne (Gil) Guthrie of Wichita, Kansas, Gilman (Martha) Blood of Overland Park, Kansas, Trina (Clinton) Blood of Kansas City, Missouri, and Jeff (Jessica) Blood of Wichita, Kansas. He is also survived by seven loving grandchildren Chandler Blood, Bailey Blood, Jack Guthrie, Suzannah Guthrie, Madison Hanna, Mallory Blood, and Emmy Blood. He attended Wichita East High School, Washburn University, and Kansas State University. He also served a brief stint in the US Navy. At 28 years of age, he took over Blood Orchards at the corner of 63rd Street South and Broadway – a business that was started by his great-grandfather, Gilman Blood, at that location in 1871. He was devoted to the thriving peach business in south Wichita. He was a member of the National Peach Council, the Haysville Chamber of Commerce, the Wichita Rotary Club, the Wichita Wagonmasters, and he was on the Board of Education for USD 261. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and of the Midian Shrine Motor Patrol. There will be a public viewing from 4:00pm – 7:00pm on Thursday, August 12 at Smith Mortuary at 1415 N. Rock Road in Derby, Kansas. The funeral will be at 11:00am on Friday, August 13th, again at Smith Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.