James Allen Blakley, Sr.

James Allen Blakley, Sr., 74, of Moberly, passed away Monday, September 6, 2021 at Boone Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Jim was born on February 18, 1947 in Moberly to Allen Martin Blakley and Evelyn Larson Blakley.  His father passed away when he was only 8, but he said he was blessed to have Robert (Butch) McCowan, his God Parents, Gene and Norma Orscheln, Harold Tabor, Frank Jones and Rusty Irons to help keep him on the straight and narrow.  He acknowledged that he wouldn’t have become the man he was without their support.

Jim was a 1966 graduate of Moberly High School.  He started his work career doing odd jobs. At age 16, he went to work at Jim’s Thriftway and then West Lake Hardware.  He later worked for DuPont where he was employed for 26 years.  Jim finished his work career at 3M in Columbia before failing health dictated his retirement.  He received several long-time perfect attendance plaques at both DuPont and 3M.

On August 16, 1997 Jim married Ronda Sue Betts.  He said that she made him the happiest he had ever been. 

Jim worked hard to keep the bills paid and a roof over his family’s head.  He was an avid quail hunter, deer hunter and fisherman.  Jim also enjoyed training bird dogs.  He was especially proud when one them made the cover of a sporting magazine.

Jim started the very first hunter safety classes in Randolph County, in the 70’s with now retired conservation agent, Jack Stowe.  He assisted with the program for 15 years.  He said by doing that he was able to give back a little for all the fun he had hunting and fishing.

Jim was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church.  He was a member of the Moberly Masonic Lodge for over 40 years and also a member of the NRA and MTQF (Mark Twain Quail Forever). Jim truly enjoyed his monthly luncheons with his grade school and high school friends. 

Jim’s family will remember him as being a strict but caring father who always tried to be honest and to stay out of trouble.

Those preceding Jim in death are his parents; his grandparents; aunts; uncles and his grandson, Cameron Hackley. 

He is survived by his beloved wife, Ronda Blakley of Moberly; children, James Allen Blakley, Jr of Moberly, Tracey (Joe) Nesser of Moberly and Christopher (Analisa) Blakley of Grand Rapids, MI; step children, Wendy (Scott) Kitchen of Huntsville and Grover (Jen) Betts of the State of Washington; grandchildren, Kerrigan, Josh, Rex, Harry and Jayde; step grandchildren, Langden, Connor, Marshall and Hadley; sister, Cherie Hanna of Kansas City, MO; extended family and the St. Pius X Class of 64 grade school friends and Moberly High School Class of 66 friends.

Services celebrating Jim’s life will be held on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Moberly, MO.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 12, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions in Jim’s honor are suggested to the Missouri Conservation Department c/o Donations, P O Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

Condolences may be shared online at pathwaymemorial.com.