John Reynolds Blakely, 83, of Statesville, N.C., passed away on Monday, April 29, 2024. He was born July 9, 1940, in Pinehurst, N.C., to Alfred Stewart Blakely and Inez Eugenia Cloninger Blakely of Ellerbe, N.C.

He is survived by his wife, Linda M. Blakely; and two sons, John Thomas Blakely (Teresa) of Mount Airy, Ga., and Brian Craig Blakely (Margarita) of Bethesda, Md.; along with grandchildren, Kendell Paige Blakely of Mount Airy, Ga., and Daniel Lance Blakely of Bethesda, Md. He is further survived by one brother, Bruce F. Blakely (Janice) of Aurora, Ohio, and a brother-in-law, Gene Morris (Merry) of Ashdown, Ark., along with several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents and a younger sister, Jane B. Hutchinson, who passed away in 2011.

John graduated with degrees in Poultry Science and Agricultural Economics from North Carolina State University and received a master’s degree in Poultry Science Management from Pennsylvania State University. He was employed by Perdue Farms and Central Soya and retired from Aviagen. John served as secretary-treasurer of the North Carolina Breeder Hatchery Association Inc. for several years.

John was a member of Front Street Baptist Church in Statesville, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, choir member and on various church committees over the years.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to the caregivers who assisted so faithfully in caring for John over the past several years, including most recently Sharon Alexander, Gloria Wilhelm, Nancy Beckham, Charles Steele, Millie Perkins and Zendarsky Mattison; along with Mahogany Richardson, A. J. Cote and others from Accessible Home Care. The family also wishes to thank the staff of Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County for their assistance over the past year.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Front Street Baptist Church, with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a memorial donation in support the Charles Ware Memorial Scholarship at Front Street Baptist Church, 1403 West Front Street, Statesville, NC 28677 or to the N. C. Breeder Hatchery Association Scholarship to the NC Agricultural Foundation, Campus Box 7645, NC State, Raleigh, NC 27695-7645 online at go.ncsu.edu/breederhatcheryscholarship. Please include “John R. Blakely” in the memo line of check or note online.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is serving the family.