February 17, 1932 –  February 14, 2011 Thomas Blakey entered into heavenly rest on February 14, 2011, joining his beloved wife of 52 years, Lillie Cooksey Blakey, who preceded him in 2007. Tom always referred to Lillie as his “Soul Mate”, and he was never the same after she passed away. It was a beautiful tribute to their long marriage that they were reunited on Valentine’s Day.
Tom Blakey was born in Savoy, Texas to Robert Earl and Inez Ferry Blakey on February 17, 1932. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, his parents, his sister Billie Ruth, and his grandparents, including Grandmother Ferry, who helped raise him and his siblings after the premature death of their mother.

Tom graduated from Savoy High School in 1950 and attended East Texas State Teachers College, graduating with a BS in Agriculture in 1954. He and Lillie married in Mississippi on August 9, 1954 and Tom joined the US Army. He was soon directed to serve in the Ski Patrol in Alaska, and he took his new bride with him. They returned to Texas in 1957 and Tom remained in the US Army Reserves and worked driving a snack delivery truck until being hired to teach and coach football at Dallas Christian High School. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army in 1963.

After teaching, he began his long and successful career in 1961 with Texas Power & Light Company. Tom quickly advanced and moved within the company to various locations, holding several managerial and executive positions. From 1976 until 1988, he served as the Executive Vice President of Operations and General Manager of Texas Power & Light, and from 1988 to 1993 as Executive Vice President of Operations at Texas Utilities Electric Company. He was elected to the Texas Utilities Board of Directors in 1988 and served in those capacities until his retirement in 1993. He remained close to the many friends he made during his long career.

Tom was a leader and a man of numerous and diverse accomplishments. He continually encouraged and supported others to improve themselves through education and hard work. Tom loved the outdoors, with hunting and fishing his greatest passion. Tom also worked to improve the world around him, supporting missions in Zimbabwe as well as a strong supporter of Christ Haven Children’s Home. His many appointments included serving as President of Richardson Chamber of Commerce, and serving on the Development Council of Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and the East Texas State University Foundation Board of Directors. In addition, Tom was honored as Citizen of the Year in Richardson in 1973, East Texas State University Distinguished Alumni in 1982, and Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture in 1991.

Tom is survived by his two sons and their families. Eric & Kathy Blakey and their sons Tyler and Ryan of Dripping Springs, Texas, and Trent & Tiffany Blakey and their daughters Jillian, Jordan, and Juliet of Keller, Texas. Tom is also survived by his brother OJ and Ann Blakey of Arlington, and his sister Kathryn and Jesse Daniel of Richardson.

Funeral services will be held at the Waterview Church of Christ, 1409 N. Waterview Drive, Richardson, Texas on Sunday, February 20th at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive guests beginning at 12:30 p.m. near the main auditorium. Burial will follow on Sunday at Sunnyside Cemetery in Savoy, Texas, with graveside services at approximately 4:30 p.m. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 19th from 6-8 p.m. at the Savoy Church of Christ in Savoy, Texas

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity of your choice.