Mrs. Bland passed peacefully at Providence St. Johns Hospital in Southfield, Michigan.

-Obituary for Olean K. Bland
Olean Knox Bland was born December 2, 1924, near Louisville, Mississippi. She was the third of three girls born to Jessie James Knox and Lula Burton Knox. She received her entire pre-college education at the Montgomery County Training School in Winona, Mississippi, where her mother was a teacher and her father was the principal.

She attended Alcorn A & M College in Loman, Mississippi, for one year, before meeting a young Francis Bland that was fresh from serving our country during World War II. They moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where they were married on March 15, 1946, and where Francis, Jr. was born. Soon afterwards, they settled in Detroit, Michigan, to continue their life together and where Collin Clinton and Ray Dee were born.

As a young couple they moved a few times within her beloved city of Detroit, before finally settling into their home on S. Clarendon, in 1954. Olean was a devoted homemaker and participated in community, church, and school activities—Cub Scout Den Mother, Little League Softball Coach, Block Club Member, sang in the Tabernacle Baptist Church choir, Pattengill Elementary PTA member, and served as an elections precinct worker.

Olean and "Bland" had many interests, some of which were enjoying jazz and dancing. Over the years, they made several trips, all-be-it by car—no airports for them, to Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to visit family and friends. Olean enjoyed her grandchildren and loved taking them to Belle Isle, the 4th of July fireworks, picnics, and entertaining them by playing the piano.

Olean, and her sister, Myrtle Dobbs, were avid and skilled Bridge players. They belonged to a tightly-knit club called the Bwana Bridge Club. Bridge was more than just a card game to them. The Club served as a social nucleus for their families and many friends. Olean and Myrtle often competed in Bridge tournaments around the city and state and sat in as substitutes for other Bridge clubs. When Jessie Mae Crawford, their sister from Alabama, was in town, the three sisters were unbeatable. Listening to them talk about who won what, and how, could rival any comedy club for laughs.

Olean passed away peacefully at Providence Hospital, on Monday, February 29, 2016. Olean was preceded in death by her husband, Francis Bland, Sr. and her sister, Jessie Mae Crawford. She will be sadly missed by her family which includes her beloved sister, Myrtle Dobbs; her children: Francis, Jr. and (Georgia), Collin, and Ray Bland; her grandchildren: Marc and (Carla), Keiva, Neeyn, and Lakita Bland; great grandchildren: Markeinen, Taylor, Sydnee, Dion, Marc, and Corinne Bland, and a nephew, many nieces, relatives and friends.