Otis B. Blakely

OTIS B. BLAKELY

Otis Bernard Blakely, 100, a former Lewis resident, passed away late Monday, January 27, 2014, at the Griswold Care Center in Griswold, Iowa, where he had lived since September, 2004.
Otis was born the son of John Sherman and Emily Jane (Pont) Blakely in Lewis, IA on November 19, 1913. He graduated from high-school at Lewis Consolidated School in 1932. He married Elinor Louise Johnson on January 14, 1937, at the United Methodist Church Parsonage in Griswold and enjoyed 66 years together.
Otis was a farmer all his life and with the help of his loving wife, Elinor, lived on and owned two Century Farms located four miles SE of Lewis. Besides raising crops, he raised Brown Swiss cows, hogs and Angus stock cows. He retired from farming and had his farm sale in 1986. In addition to farming he also sold Trojan-Pfizer seed corn and Archer Oil. He was an Assessor, a Federal Land Bank Director, on the REC Committee, Cass County Fair Board, Dairy superintendent and leader for 4-H and was Superintendent of the Sunday School for Lewis Methodist Church.
Otis and Elinor were social people and enjoyed square dancing and visiting the elderly. He was a man of vision. He had a versatile farming, contracting custom work and sales operation. Otis was also a mentor to his children, family and many others as well. He instilled the value and importance of self-worth through hard work.
Otis is survived by his two sons, Duane Blakely and wife Judy, of Council Bluffs and Dwight Blakely of Omaha, NE; three daughters, Janet (Watson) Weideman and husband, Gary of Griswold, Emily Jobe and husband, Robert of Lewis, and Donna (Cook) Harms and husband, Larry of Lincoln, MO; 18 grandchildren, Steve and Dianna Blakely of Omaha, Mike and Mary Blakely of Greensboro, NC, Jeff Blakely of Council Bluffs, Tim and Stacy Blakely of Eagan, MN, Cheryl and Bruce Kliewer of Santa Maria, CA, Keith and Christine Watson of Lewis, Debra and Todd Gordon of Carlisle, IA, Denise and Brad Beeman of Ankeny, IA, David and Stephanie Watson of Lewis, John and Lori Watson of Griswold, Christie Jobe of Kansas City, MO, Deanne and Larry Knudsen of Columbia, MO, Paul and Maureen Jobe of Phoenix, AZ, Donald Cook II and Angie of Atlantic, Dick and Lori Cook of Atlantic, Danette and Paul VanHofwegen of Las Vegas, NV, Brent Blakely of Sacramento, CA and Shellie Blakely of Sacramento, CA; 34 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; one sister-in-law Shirley and Kirk Williams of Wahoo, NE.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2003; two brothers, Virgil Blakely and Wendell Blakely; three sisters, Iola Holldorf, Frances Munson, and Otis’ twin, Opal Harvey; his step-mother, Hilda Blakely; a son-in-law, Wayne Watson; grand daughter, Linda Watson; great granddaughter, Erica Blakely and great grandson, Jared Cook.

Otis’ family requests memorials be made to Lewis United Congregational Methodist Church, Lewis Library-Heritage Center, or Unity Point Hospice.

Roland Funeral Service of Atlantic, Iowa is caring for Otis' family and the arrangements. Condolences and virtual candles may be left in his guest book at www.rolandfuneralservice.com