August 30, 1934 – April 27, 2023
Billy Ralph Blakely, 88, passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Bill was born on August 30, 1934, in Athens, Texas to parents Ray M. Blakely and Iva Lee (Barnes) Sloan. Bill was a 1951 graduate of Sabine High School where he was a member of the school council and an accomplished athlete in all school sports but especially on the gridiron. While at Sabine High he met the love of his life, Virginia Blakely, and they enjoyed a lifelong love affair culminating in sixty years of marriage.
After High School, Bill attended Kilgore Jr. College from 1951-1953 and was a star member of the Kilgore Jr. College football team. He continued his football career at Stephen F. Austin from 1953-1956. Bill then enlisted and served in the US Army from 1956-1962. After serving his country, Bill began a remarkable 30-plus year career at Ethyl Corporation’s refinery in Pasadena Texas. He began work there as an operator and advanced up the ranks to Superintendent of Ethyl’s Complex A, becoming the first non-degreed Ethyl employee to achieve Superintendent status. While at Ethyl he cultivated many lifelong friends who he enjoyed playing golf and deer hunting with long after his retirement.
Bill also gave back to the community, serving as a youth baseball coach for approximately 25 years. He enjoyed many sports but none more than following his granddaughter’s volleyball careers throughout their high school and college years, faithfully attending matches and tournaments in virtually every state in the USA.
Bill Blakely was a remarkable man, a loving and devoted husband, a wonderful father, grandfather, and great grandad. He will be missed more than words can convey.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Virginia, parents Ray Blakely, Iva Lee Sloan, stepfather Roger Sloan, and mother-in-law Seawillow Mosley, his sisters-in-law Mary Francis Travis and Billie Jean Baggett, and his dear friend and brother-in-law Byrd (Junior) Baggett. He is survived by his Son, Stephen Blakely; Daughter-in-law Renee Blakely; Grandchildren: Chelsea Blakely and Brianna Blakely; and Great grandchildren Aubrey and Reid Matthews; as well as numerous other family members and friends.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. Interment service at Danville Cemetery, Kilgore, Texas on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. by Pastor Jeff Borgwardt. All arrangements by Jeter Funeral Home, Friendswood Texas.
The family has asked in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Bill’s memory to the Salvation Army, 2732 Cherrybrook Ln, Pasadena Tx 77502 or the Veterans of Foreign Wars, PO Box 2002 Milford, NH 03055-9700.
