Johnnye Blakeley

Johnnye Louise Blakeley, 87, went quietly into the hands of the Lord on June 1, 2022.

Johnnye was born on March 21, 1935 to John Lewis and Edna Louise Ashton in Rotan, Texas. After graduating from Rotan High School in 1953, she married the love of her life, Roy James Blakeley, an Air Force jet pilot.

When Johnnye’s husband Roy was killed in Vietnam in July 1965, the family was stationed in California. She returned home to Rotan to raise her young children, Larry, Karen and Sharon. There she dedicated her life to being a wonderful mother and helping her Dad with farming and raising cattle.

When the last of her children left for college, Johnnye began studying for an associate’s degree at TSTI in Sweetwater. Upon earning her degree, she moved to Dallas and began a career with Sun Oil Company until she retired after almost 20 years.

Johnnye was passionate about life and adventure, having travelled the world as a wife of a fighter pilot. She was a dedicated mother, sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother and loved her family above all else.

Johnnye was preceded in death by her husband Maj. Roy J. Blakeley, parents Edna and John Ashton of Rotan, sister Doris McCuistion of Irving, and granddaughter Lori Ann Blakeley, Dallas. She is survived by a son, Larry Blakeley, and wife Dawn of Dallas; daughter Karen Blakeley Gallini, and husband Joe of Tyler; Sharon Blakeley of Rotan; sister Valerie Owen of Irving, as well as grandchildren Leslie Blakeley, Dallas, Payton Camp, Dallas, Blakeley Camp, Austin, and Evan Blakeley, Austin;  great-grandkids Lucas Adkins, Kendall Hardin, and Tristan Camp, Dallas.

There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, June 4th at 2:00 PM at the Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home in Rotan, Texas. Visitation will be preceding the service from 1:30-2 PM, with burial following in Belvieu Cemetery.