Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Original Stars booster member dies

Blanche Corley, a founding member of the Las Vegas Stars booster club whose boisterous cheering included threats to tell umpires' mothers about their sons' errant calls against her beloved baseball team, has died. She was 71.

Corley, who started the chant "We love you, Mark," when Detroit Tigers catcher Mark Parent was a Star, died Tuesday at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center after several years of kidney problems.

Services for the 37-year Las Vegas resident, who regularly baked treats for the Stars players and gave their wives baby clothes, will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Lutheran Church. Visitation was 4-8 p.m. today at Palm Mortuary-Jones. Interment will be in Palm Valley View Cemetery.

"She was a remarkable lady and also typical, I think, of a generation of Las Vegas women who worked in the early days of this city to raise their children largely alone and struggling financially," said former SUN reporter Judy Carlos.

The longtime SUN reporter once wrote a column dedicated to Corley, who for many years was the office manager for tax accountant Stuart Smith, who died in January.

Corley, born Dec. 20, 1924, in Cleveland, is the second well-known Stars fan to die within a month. Wayne Dibble, the team's unofficial mascot, known affectionately as "Dancing Dibble," died March 20.

When the Stars came to Las Vegas for their inaugural season in 1983, Corely helped found the Co-Stars booster club.

Her usual seat was on the home team side of the plate, about six feet from the on-deck circle, where she "loudly dispensed praise, advice and, now and then, a little stern to-the-woodshed lecture" to players, Carlos said.

Corley's affection for Parent, who also would play for the Chicago Cubs and other major league teams, may have stemmed from her youngest son, who was killed in an accident shortly after graduating from high school, strongly resembling the ballplayer.

When Parent came to the plate, Corley would chant "We love you Mark," which was picked up by other fans and echoed throughout the stadium.

Parent, who played for the Stars from 1985-87, and his family became close to Corley and kept in contact with her through the years.

During the last two summers, Corley arranged her kidney dialysis sessions so her son could take her to Cashman Field in time to hear the lineups.

Corley is survived by a son, John Mihal of Las Vegas; a daughter, Judith Leavitt, and her husband, Gary Leavitt, both of Las Vegas; a nephew, Gene Corley Jr., and his wife, Constance Corley; and great nieces, Laycie Corley and Chyanne Corley.

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