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Jerry Alan Blakeley
Jerry Alan Blakeley, 72, of Greenville, fell asleep in death,
surrounded by his family, on Thursday, January 16, 2020.
Born October 20, 1947, the third of four children, to the late Don P.
and Marie E. Blakeley. He is survived by his two sisters, Georgia
(Kenneth) Monroe of Wallkill, NY, Donnalee (Lloyd, late) Hanson of
Knightstown, IN, and his brother, Greg (Tresa) Blakeley of Arcanum, OH;
and nieces and nephews, Beau (Amber) Blakeley, Tara (John) Yoxtheimer,
Rebecca Hicks, Martha
Hanson, Dawn (Jon) Kikot, David (April) Monroe; and great-nieces,
Darcy, Sara, and Caitlin.
Jerry graduated from Greenville High School in 1965. Among his
first jobs were Sutton’s Grocery in Arcanum, Fridgidaire in Dayton, and
as an orderly at Miami Valley Hospital. Later he would be known
by many as the purveyor of joy through the distraction of video games
and pinball machines at Little Greggie’s arcade in Greenville.
Most recently he worked alongside the fine people at Whirlpool in
Greenville. He enjoyed a diversity of interests, including scuba
diving, skiing, and hockey. Jerry was an avid golfer, though
regrettably, his golf jokes were far better than his swing. (Why
does a golfer wear two pairs of pants? In case he gets a hole in
one!)
Jerry never married or had children of his own, instead he lavished
genuine love and attention upon his nieces and nephews. When the
need arose, he readily accepted the selfless role of caregiver for his
aging mother and father. His loyalty to them was exceptional and
will always be remembered. When you met Jerry, you immediately
sensed that he cared about you; wanted to hear about you; wanted to
know you better. He routinely greeted friends and strangers alike
with the open-ended, “Tell me a story…”
Jerry, as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, dedicated his life to Jehovah God
and was baptized on January 1, 1963. Understanding the truth of
God’s Word the Bible gave Jerry different perspective on what he saw
going on in the world and what to expect from the future. For
instance, in 1968, during the Vietnam War, like many young men, Jerry
was drafted. Despite popular opinion surrounding this emotionally
charged subject, his deeply held desire to obey his Heavenly Father and
show love to his fellow man would simply not allow him to take part in
the war. For this conscientious decision he was charged with a
crime, found guilty, and sentenced in a court of law. While not a
pleasant experience, he was pleased to take a stand for what he
believed in, no matter the consequence.
During his life, Jerry learned what a difference a close relationship
with God could make. He felt strongly that a knowledge of Jehovah
God can be the key to peace and satisfaction; while a life without that
knowledge can be a struggle to find true happiness. On one hand,
Jerry was mild mannered, often deferring attention to others; but on
the other, he never hesitated to give voice to those things that
mattered the most. Speaking with others about his faith, and
encouraging them to explore God’s word for themselves was very
important to Jerry. Sharing the truth from the Bible regarding
the origin of life, God’s name, the hope of the resurrection, and the
future promise of life on a paradise earth was far more important to
him than any hobby. He loved, and was loved in return, by a
worldwide brotherhood of dear fellow worshippers.
The diagnosis of advanced colon cancer last February forced Jerry onto
the crowded road that seeks to paralyze and consume all it’s travelers
with fear. He resisted fear by seeing this unavoidable itinerary
as an opportunity to make new friends and share with as many people as
possible the Bible truths that he held dear. Jerry’s kindness,
disarming wit, and handfuls of candy, endeared him to doctors, nurses,
caregivers, and fellow patients. His family is grateful for the
incredible attention he received from the beautiful folks at Dayton
Physicians Cancer Care and State of the Heart Hospice.
The possibility of a cure was unknown, yet, for Jerry, the future was
never in doubt. With eyes of faith he could see beyond the
present darkness into the future new world described in the Bible at
Revelation 21:3,4. The resurrection hope was a secure anchor for
Jerry, right to the end. That same hope continues to bring
comfort to his family and friends. If you would like to learn
more about what Jerry believed, we invite you to visit www.jw.org
and click on ‘Bible Teachings.’
The family will receive friends beginning at 12pm, with a memorial
service to follow at 2pm on Saturday, January 18th at the Kingdom Hall
of Jehovah's Witnesses, 6688 Ludy Road, Greenville Ohio. The
family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
www.jw.org or www.stateoftheheartcare.org.
Funeral arrangements by Zechar Bailey Funeral Home Greenville, Ohio.
Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
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