Thomas George "Tom" Blakley

© Enid Morning News Enid, Garfield Co., OK

Submitted by: Jo

© David Schram

Recent Deaths

TOM BLAKLEY, A Mass of Christian Burial for Tom Blakley, 57, will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The Reverends Kevin J. Ratterman and Ernest A. Flusche will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. A visitation with the family will be today from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Henninger-Allen Funeral Home Chapel. He was born May 20, 1947 in Enid to Howard and Anne Sullivan Blakley and died at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center Sunday, February 6, 2005.

Tom was a member of St. Francs Xavier Catholic Church. Tom graduated Enid Memorial High School as valedictorian. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in biology and chemistry from Phillips University of Enid, Oklahoma in 1969. He earned his Masters Degree in Education in 1978 from Phillips University. Tom continued his educational pursuit at Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1969 and 1970 and again in 1972. Tom taught science and coached basketball in 1972-1973 at Gage High School. Returning to Enid in the 1974-1975 school year, Tom taught science at North Enid Public Schools. From 1975 to 1978 Tom was an Assistant Professor Department of Health Physical Education and Recreation at Phillips University. Tom coached the Phillips University women's basketball team to 80 wins and 12 losses in 1976. In 1977 Tom and the girls he coached finished second place nationwide.

Tom graduated from the University of Oklahoma obtaining his Juris Doctor Degree in May of 1981. Tom practiced law as an associate attorney with Linn, Helms,Kirk & Burkett in Oklahoma City for two years and then returned to Enid. Tom established a partnership with David Henneke from 1986 to 1992. In 1992 Tom had his own practice with his wife, Terri Blakley, until multiple health problems forced Tom into early retirement.

Tom was a member of the Executive Committee, Family Law Section of Oklahoma Bar Association, the State Bar of Oklahoma and Garfield County Bar Association and admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma; the U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit; the U.S. Supreme Court. He was appointed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court as an Appellant Judge, Temporary Division, Oklahoma Court of Appeals. He was a recipient of the Golden Gavel Award from the Oklahoma Bar Association. He was a member of the legal fraternities Phi Delta Phi and the Order of Barristers. Tom was an instructor of Legal Research and Writing at OU College of Law. He was a member of the National Moot Court Team, the National Appellate Advocacy Team, the Mock Trial Team and legal counsel of the Student Association at OU College of Law. Tom received the Ed Shipp Memorial Scholarship at OU School of Law. Tom received the Hardin Ballard Memorial Award for outstanding freshman in appellate. Tom was also a member Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission of Oklahoma from 1992-1998. As a commission member, Tom adopted and administered rules governing the mandated continuing professional training of 11,000 attorneys licensed to practice law. As a faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, Tom imparted instruction on advanced courtroom techniques to licensed attorneys from across the nation, who desire to improve their trial skills. He was an instructor in trial college while a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma College of Law's College of Trial Advocacy. Tom also instructed legal seminars for the Oklahoma Bar Association, the University of Oklahoma College of Law, the University of Tulsa College of Law and the Oklahoma City University College of Law. Tom also taught substantive family law seminars.

He is survived by his wife, Terri; two daughters, Katherine, Sarah; one son, Matthew, all of the home; two sisters, Sally Blakley of San Antonio, Mary Blakley of Los Angeles, CA; four brothers, Michael of Northridge, CA, Patrick of Oklahoma City, Kevin of Phoenix, AZ, Chris of Queen Creek, AZ; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.