Charles Willard “Cotton” Blakley

Charles Willard “Cotton” Blakley passed away on February 28, 2017 at his home in Pierce Township, OH with his wife of 58 years by his side.

Born in Laurel County, KY, to Bradley and Mary Lee Davis Blakley, weighing 3 ½ pounds, he joined his older brother, George, completing the family. The family soon moved to Williamsburg, KY.

Willard was a small baby and was given the nickname “Cotton” by his father because he was a white haired little boy. He attended city school about three miles away. He enjoyed and was proficient in roller skating and many times skated to school. The family lived in Williamsburg, KY and Norwood, OH. As a boy, he spent many hours exploring the woods near his home.

Having the heart of a servant, he joined the Kentucky State Guard and later the Ohio National Guard. Also being an ambitious young man, as a teenager, Willard was employed by Carbide Lane at the Lane Theater in town as the projector operator. He later joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned Company 459, Bainbridge, MD. His job training was IMSN Instrument man. Cotton was also life guard at the Officers’ swimming pool. He was also on the Underwater Demolition Team, the precursor to the Navy Seals. Willard was in the Navy 5 ½ years. After his honorable discharge, he attended Gruen School of Watchmaking in Cincinnati, OH, where he became a Certified Master Watchmaker. Employed by Lyle Willis, he repaired watches at the jewelry store in Corbin, KY.
After moving back to Ohio, Cotton married, Marian Bowen and they operated a successful watch repair business for 55 years. Being an internationally known and highly skilled watchmaker, Willard held several offices in the Cincinnati Watchmakers Guild and American Watchmakers Institute.

Cotton was baptized in Norwood at Indian Mound Church of Christ. He later became a Deacon at the Withamsville Church of Christ where he served for 44 years. He was responsible for several service positions, and created many more. Between 2000 – 2004, Cotton and Marian assisted on three missionary trips to Panama in Central America.
Some cherished personal memories of travel were to Florida, California, Virginia, Hawaii and Grand Cayman Islands.

For many years, Cotton served on the Clermont County 648 Board of Mental Health and Retardation. He also served on the Board of Directors of Midwestern Children’s Home and Village Christian School. Along with his wife and other crew, he cooked one week per year at Ft. Hill Christian Youth Camp for over 30 years.

The life of Willard became notably enriched by the acquaintance of three doctors from the Philippines: Dr. Regalado Mary, Dr. Vicente Cabansag and Dr. Resty Espinosa. They came to accept the Blakley family as their own. The love and respect lasted over 40 years.

While lovingly attended by his wife, other family members, and assisted by Pierce Township Life Squad and Pierce Township Police, after a 9 month struggle with his health, Cotton, the hometown boy answered God’s call to come home.

He is survived by son, Wayne (Cheryl) Blakley, daughter, LaShanda (Leslie) Smith, grandsons: Derek (Melissa) Blakley, Dustin (Jamie) Blakley, Devin (Ami) Blakley and Clayton Smith, great-grandchildren: Brianna Blakley, McKenzie Blakley, Wyatt Blakley, Kaytlyn Sutterfield, Brantley Blakley, Kennedy Blakley, Brooklyn Blakley, Bailee Blakley, and Braxten Blakley, numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

He was laid to rest in Pierce Township Cemetery, Cincinnati, OH on March 3, 2017.

He was preceded in death by parents, Bradley and Mary Lee Blakley,  brother, George Blakley, step-sister, Pauline Daugherty, nephew, Jeffrey Blakley and in-laws, John and Opal Bowen.

The family was comforted as Willard was cared for by Charlie and Kevin McIntyre of Charles H. McIntyre Funeral Home. Friends and family were led in singing by Lowell Smith, with words of encouragement by Dick Wanninger, Marc Curfman, Chris Phillips and Keith Baker.

Besides other acapella singing, some musical offerings were “My Old Kentucky Home”, followed by the plaintive tones and words of Vince Gill to “Go Rest High On That Mountain”.

Cotton’s sense of service went beyond family and extended to his church, its activities, to his friends, profession, community and even to strangers.

Still mourned, missed and loved by a family that treasured him deeply. Our dear Cotton, his love and devotion to us will remain in sweet memories.

The world is better because you were here. It is less now because you are gone.

Condolences may be sent in care of McIntyre Funeral Home, 323 N. Union Street, Felicity, OH 45120 or  http://www.charleshmcintyrefuneralhome.com.

Charles McIntyre Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.