Hal Blakely, Sr.

Mr. Hal Erskine Blakely, Sr., 93, passed away on Friday, January 15, 2021. He was born on August 21, 1927 in Henderson County, NC to Lowry Blakely and Frances Reynolds Blakely. He lived most of his life in the Asheville area. Hal graduated from Lee Edwards High School and Biltmore College. He loved his country and was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps during WWII for 4 years and later was a Staff Sergeant in the Army Reserve for many years. Hal was a pharmaceutical representative for 34 years and worked with McNeil Laboratories for 31 of those years. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Asheville, NC for all his life until moving to Winston-Salem, NC in 2006, where he then joined Trinity United Methodist Church of Winston-Salem, NC. Hal was always a faithful member of the choir at both churches. Early in life, Hal worked for the FBI as a fingerprint technician. He was also a ballroom dance instructor at Arthur Murray’s Dance Studio where he met his wife Margie. He loved his family and friends and kept up with them regularly via email. Hal enjoyed gardening, fishing, going to the beach, working with computers, and many styles of dancing with his wife (ballroom, square dancing). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister; and three brothers. Surviving are his loving wife of 65 years, Marjorie “Margie” Blakely; son, Hal “Rusty” Blakely, Jr. (Crystal); daughters, Sherri Thomasson (John) and Beth Kearns (Tab); grandchildren, Marie Dotson (Daniel), Dakota Blakely (Jennifer), Heather Sheppard (Chris), Joseph Thomasson (Jenna), Brandi Hinman (Anthony), and Justin Kearns (Jaisa); great-grandchildren, Clay, Bryce, and Makenzie Dotson, Salem Sheppard, Lane and Blakely Hinman; niece, Judy Oltmanns, many other beloved nieces and nephews; and lifelong friend, R.B. Parris. A private service will be held at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel for family and close friends. Interment will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, January 18, 2021 at Green Hills Cemetery in Asheville, NC with Rev. Doug Miller officiating. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church Choir, 3819 Country Club Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27104. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com