Nelson E. Blakley, 89, of Springfield, died on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at 2 p.m. in the Memorial Hospice unit at Heritage Health: Therapy and Senior Care in Springfield.
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 12, at Staab Funeral Home in Springfield with Pastor Thomas Christell officiating. Burial followed at McKinnie Cemetery in Springfield.
Mr. Blakley was born Nov. 11, 1928, in Springfield, to Frederick and Emma (Neuman) Blakley. He married Elizabeth "Liz" Ballard on Dec. 13, 1981, and she survives.
He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps between the WWII and Korean War eras.
Mr. Blakley retired from Dean Foods Company in 1996 after 38 years of service. He previously worked for Roy Copeland's Filling Station, Dell's Dairy and Springfield Township as the Springfield road commissioner.
He enjoyed playing horseshoes, bowling, fishing, watching his hummingbirds, playing pinochle with family, tinkering in his garage, being outdoors, sitting on his porch swing and attending jazz festivals for over 40 years. He enjoyed Tuesday afternoons with the "Barn Gang," but most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Blakley is survived by six children, Robert E. (Joanne) Blakley of Anna, Diana Sargent of Stillwater, OK, and Linda (Thomas) Berberet, John N. Blakley, Patricia (Mark) Martin and Theresa (Michael) Miller, all of Springfield; two stepchildren, Diana (Dan) Willis of Pleasant Plains and Debra Sawyer of Springfield; one stepdaughter-in-law, Evelyn Ballard of Raymond; 25 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Kenneth Blakley of Kalamazoo, MI; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert and Norman "Mike" Blakley; three sisters, Margaret Trees, Elizabeth "Betty" Brown and Marian Banks; one son-in-law, Les Sargent; one stepson, David Ballard; and one daughter-in-law, Sherry Blakley.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Hospital or the Funshop Scholarship Fund.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.staabfuneralhomes.com.
