Charles Lyndon Blakely

Charles Lyndon Blakely (Charlie), 75, of Walnut Springs passed away from complications of a respiratory illness on Friday, January 12, 2024, surrounded by his daughter and son-in-law.

Charlie was born on July 30, 1948 in Grand Prairie, Texas to Henson Lee Blakely and Neva (Kesee) Blakely. He had one younger brother, Gerald Lee Blakely.

Charlie graduated from Richardson High School in 1966, and attended El Centro College and Tarleton State University studying Industrial Arts. On May 19, 1969, he began service in the United States Army and completed basic training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma before deployment to Vietnam. While in service in Vietnam, he served as a Sergeant E-5 in Field Artillery.

In his younger years, Charlie was a talented cornet and trumpet player. Although he grew up in Richardson, he loved the country life, and moved to Walnut Springs, Texas in 1980. He was a talented draftsman and welder and utilized those skills working at Comanche Peak Power Plant and building pipe fence and barns with his brother, Gerald. He also worked for Bosque County, and he eventually retired from the Texas Department of Transportation in Meridian after 13 years of service. He managed various ranch cow/calf operations from 1966 until after his retirement including the Griffin Ranch in Meridian.

Charlie was a rodeo participant and avid fan and enjoyed riding bulls for many years. He spent many hours in the eighties bucking bulls on Sunday afternoon to hone his skills at Mac Yocham’s. He had a love for horses and enjoyed participating in team penning competitions around the area on his favorite gray horse, Buddy. He thoroughly enjoyed watching and following the rodeo circuit, college football and NFL games with his good friend, Mike. He loved following the Texas Rangers and rarely missed watching a game. Charlie believed in living a simple and quiet life, making sure he tended to his business, and helping his friends whenever he could. He always liked a good domino game or knife swap. He rarely missed a good coffee chat with friends in downtown Walnut as long as it wasn’t too early or too cold! Although he had several health issues over the years, he wasn’t one to ever complain. He took each day in stride and did the best he could with what he had. He wasn’t big on emotion, but he definitely loved more than he let on, was honest, and was known to be a little stubborn on occasion!

Survivors include his daughter, Shauna (Blakely) Lane and husband, Nored of Petersburg; two grandchildren, Cassidy Lane of Eula, and Seth Lane of Petersburg; a niece and nephew, Michelle (Blakely) Webb and husband Tom of Jasper, and John Henson Blakely and wife Jennifer of Kosse; great nieces and nephews Colt Webb, Wyatt Webb, Caleb Webb, Emma Blakely, Jacob Blakely, Kailyn Harris, and Kyle Shaver; bonus daughter Christi Coverdale and husband Leroy of Meridian, and good friend, Mike McCarty, of Walnut Springs.

He is preceded in death by his sweet wife, Sue Gerardy Blakely; his beloved parents, Henson and Neva Blakely, and brother, Gerald.

Services for Charlie will be held under the direction of Lawson Funeral Home in Meridian on Thursday, January 18, 2024, with a visitation from 12:30 -1:30 p.m. at Lawson Funeral Home Chapel in Meridian followed by graveside service with military honors at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Walnut Springs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of his wife, Sue and mother, Neva; the American Cancer Society in honor of his brother Gerald; or a veteran’s organization of choice.