Arthur Lee Blakely

Arthur Lee Blakely departed his life on Wednesday, May 2, 2013 at The Denver Hospice. He was born August 4, 1938 in Waynesboro, MS and moved as a youth with his parents to Prichard, AL. He accepted Christ at an early age at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Prichard, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents Willie and Annie Taylor-Blakely and two brothers: Wilbert and Johnny Blakely.

Arthur received his Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction in 1961 from Alabama A&M College in Huntsville, AL. After two years of service in the United States Army, he relocated to Denver, CO and worked as a Civil Engineering Technician with the Bureau of Reclamation (Concrete Dams Division), where he retired after thirty-three years.

Arthur was zealous and dedicated in his Christian walk. During his military service, he taught Sunday School at St. John’s Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, CO under the leadership of Reverend Milton E. Proby. He later moved to Denver and joined New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Dr. M. C. Williams. He was faithful in his service as a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Male Chorus. He was later ordained as a Deacon at New Hope Baptist Church. After many years of serving at New Hope, he moved his membership to Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church under Reverend Dr. Jules E. Smith where he remained steadfast in his walk with Christ. Deacon Blakely was a faithful and committed servant for Christ. He used his God-given gifts and talents, especially in math, to mentor youth in the church.

Arthur had a great love for singing and listening to Christian music. His hobbies included fishing, sports, real estate, numismatics and anything related to investments. He loved to crunch numbers! He was a faithful steward of all that God entrusted to him, ever mindful to avoid waste. He frequently said, “He that waste, shall surely come to want.”

He leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife, Jeanette Early Blakely; two precious daughters by a previous marriage: Arlene Cynthia Young, Denver, CO and Miranda F. Blakely, Aurora, CO; a treasured grandson, Christian B. Young, Bolingbrook, IL; four brothers: George (Evelyn) Blakely, Claudell Blakely, Prichard, AL; Samuel (Sandra) Blakely, Eclectic, AL and Richard (Antoinette) Blakely, Mobile, AL; one sister, Ann (Otis) Lewis, Dayton, OH. Two sister-in-laws: Jonella Blakely, Chicago, IL and Clotilda Blakely, Mobile, AL and one special Aunt, Vivian Inell Taylor. Upon remarriage to Jeanette Early in 2005, he inherited three sons: Fabian (Tifnie) Early, Alonzo (Misty) Early and Alphonso Early, Houston, TX and eleven grandchildren. Other family includes four aunts, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be Friday, May 10 at 11:00 AM at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church at 1500 S. Dayton St. in Denver, 80247. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM the same day.