Obituary for Reford Blakely

Reford Lee Blakley

May 15, 1944 – July 26, 2021

Reford Lee Blakley of Blackwell, OK., passed away on July 25, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. Reford was born on May 15, 1944 to Francis (Frank) Blakley and Bessie Seltz Blakley. Reford was raised in Marland, OK. and graduated from the Marland high school.

After graduation he worked for OTASCO (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Co.) in Ponca City, OK. until he enlisted in the Army in 1967, he spent his tour of duty in Germany. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Ponca City and began working for OTASCO as a mechanic.

In April of 1972 he met Linda Cummins and they knew from the start that they were meant to spend their life together; they were married October 14, 1972. They were blessed with two children; Rhonda Kay and Franklin James.

The family moved with OTASCO to Duncan, OK when he was promoted to assistant manager and then to West Point, MS. when he was promoted to manager. In 1982 after five years in Mississippi, Reford transferred back to Oklahoma where he worked in the Blackwell OTASCO and then the Ponca City OTASCO.

The family made their home in Blackwell and Reford continued working for the Ponca City OTASCO until the company closed all their stores in 1989.

After OTASCO, Reford worked for different companies such as Southwest Cupid in Blackwell, Sykes Enterprises Inc. in Ponca City and Southwind casinos in Newkirk and Braman, OK. Reford retired from the Braman casino when his health began to fail.

Reford was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He loved children and was Santa Clause for Sykes Enterprises for several years. He loved all of his Marland friends and thought of them as family especially the Evans family.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Rhonda Viveros; son, Franklin Blakley; sister, Rita Marie Irons all of Blackwell; niece Debra Miller and Danny of West Virginia; grandchildren, Gregory Viveros and Gloria Viveros of Blackwell; brother-in-laws, Dennis Cummins & Viola of Arizona; William Cummins & Valanda of Arkansas; Terry Cummins & Dana and James Cockerham of Nebraska. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Franklin, Clyde and Virgil Blakley, mother-in-law and father-in-law Luella and James Cummins; brother-in-law Robert Cummins and sister-in-law Donna Cockerham.

The family would like to thank Hospice of North Central Oklahoma for his excellent care.

Memorial service will be held August 21, 2021 at 10:00 am at Roberts and Son Funeral Home in Blackwell. Due to the rise in COVID cases, the family requests that masks be worn.