Donald Frederick Blakley passed away on January 8, 2025. He was the second born of nineteen children unto David W. Blakley, Sr. and Lula M. Lankford Blakley in St. Joesph, Missouri. Depending on what stage in life you met him, you called him Donnie, Blake, or Don. Donnie was baptized in his youth, loved the Lord, and most recently served as a deacon at the Missouri City Baptist Church.
Donnie attended public schools within St. Joseph’s School District and graduated from Central High School in 1958. While at Central High School, Donnie was a four-sport athlete, competing in track and field, football, baseball, and basketball. He received the Zimmerman Trophy for distinction in athletics and was recognized as a first-team, all-state forward in basketball. Some of Donnie’s most fond athletic memories in high school include being a part of the basketball team coached by Howard Iba and serving as co-captain. In 1958, they placed second in the state, and many believe they were the best basketball team in his hometown’s history. Donnie was inducted into Central High School’s Hall of Fame in 2013.
As a southpaw, Blake did not pursue the offer to pitch for the Chicago Cubs. With his parents’ encouragement to attend college, he accepted a full-ride athletic scholarship at Oklahoma State University (OSU). One of the first African Americans to attend OSU, he joined the basketball team coached by Henry Iba and competed in baseball and track and field. While at OSU, Blake was a Men’s Basketball letter winner and Big 8 Conference Co-Champion in the high jump. He also was a member of OSU’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and named their Alpha Man of the Year in 1960.
After obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Social Studies from OSU’s College of Education in 1962, Don continued to further his education while working in human resources as a recruiter at the Bendix Corporation, and as an educator, coach, and administrator. He obtained graduate degrees in education from Central Missouri State University and the University of Kansas. For almost forty years, Don was an educator and leader in numerous roles in Missouri, Kansas, and Texas at K-12, community college, and university levels. During the latter part of his career, he returned to the classroom as a special education teacher and received recognition as Galena Park Independent School District’s Teacher of the Year.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, David W. Blakley, Sr. and Lula M. Lankford Blakley, brother Paul Louis Blakley, and sister Lula M. Blakley. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Doris J. Blakley, children, Toi Blakley Harris, M.D. (Cord), D. Steven Blakley, Dominique N. Blakley, grandchildren, Steven D. Blakley, Stephen Carmona (Jasmine), Morgan (Maciah) Long, and Blake Harris, brothers and sisters, David W. Blakley, Jr. (Jayne), Leo Blakley, Sr. (Rev. Dorothy), John Blakley, Daniel Blakley, Addison Blakley, Charles Blakley, Sr. (Pastor Earnestine), Richard Blakley, Freda Blakley Dyche (Steven), George Blakley (Rebecca), Robert Blakley (Laura), Isaac Blakley, Mary Ruth Blakley Gorman (Roger Sr.), Ronald Blakley, Sr. (Melody), Roger Blakley, Michael Blakley (Debra), and Susan Ann Blakley, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.
The family will forever be grateful for the family and friends who visited and prayed for him during his extended illness, as well as the medical teams who have provided care.
