Catherine Smith Blakley

Catherine grew up in Birmingham, Michigan and attended Pembroke Elementary, Derby Junior High, and Seaholm High School. Her friendships from those days continue to this day. She continued her education at Michigan Statue University, earning a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences. She was a proud member of Phi Mu while at MSU. Go Green! Later in her career she earned an MBA from The George Washington University.

Following her time at Michigan State, Catherine joined the staff of Up With People and travelled around the world for three years supporting the organization in their mission to unite people through music and service. During this experience she built friendships that would continue for the rest of her life.

Catherine later settled in the Washington DC area, where she worked for the American Gas Association for several years, and then began a lengthy career with MCI (later Verizon). Her career with MCI/Verizon spanned nearly 30 years building and running programs across the marketing organization. She retired from Verizon in June 2019.

When she first settled in the Washington DC area, Catherine volunteered with the Junior League of Washington. Her service with the JLW continued for more than 20 years, which included many years of leadership and serving in numerous roles on the board of directors. In 2011 she was awarded the Sally Carruthers Spirit of Voluntarism Award, which is JLW’s highest award and recognizes members who have made exceptional contributions of time and voluntary efforts to the League and the greater Washington, DC, community throughout their life.

Catherine’s greatest joy came from her family and the extraordinary friendships she built throughout her life. In January 2002, she married Robert Blakley. She was the proud mother of Caroline, born in September 2004, and Colin, born in October 2006, and some of her happiest moments were spent sitting in the bleachers, catching up with friends and cheering on her children as they played sports from Little League through high school. Catherine embraced her community with the same enthusiasm she brought to her friendships, including serving as co-president of the Chesterbrook Woods Citizens Association. She was also an avid sports fan who loved cheering on the Washington Nationals and Capitals, while never losing her Michigan roots or her devotion to the Detroit Lions. Above all, family and friends were at the center of Catherine’s life. She had a remarkable ability to connect with people, and over the years she built an incredible circle of friendships that she treasured deeply.

You have to be a good friend to earn good friends. Those are words she shared with her children often. She lived those words, and there is no better example of that ethos. During every phase of her life she built not only situational friendships, but friendships for life.

She was pre-deceased by her parents, Ann and Wendell Jr. She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Robert; her children Caroline and Colin; her brothers Wendell III (Martha) and Steven (Lynn), and too many dear friends to count.

A celebration of life is being planned for October 24th. Details will be shared once plans are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Melanoma Research Alliance, https://www.curemelanoma.org/.