In Loving Memory of Paul George Blakey, Sr.

Early Sunday morning, September 21^st, 2025, Paul George Blakey, Sr., was called home to be with the Lord. God honored his prayer; he passed peacefully in his sleep at the age of 89.

Paul George Blakey, Sr. was born in Alliance, Nebraska on December 22^nd, 1935, to the union of Janice Jones and Paul Blakey. He moved to Portland, Oregon at a young age where he was raised. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1955. On May 16^th, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Catherine Washington. In 1957, they relocated to Seattle for better opportunities and where they raised six children.

Paul began working for The Boeing Company in 1957, in Seattle as a machinist and retired after 32 years of dedicated service. During the same year, he proudly served in the U.S. National Guard of Washington, as First Cook for over 5 years. After contracting poliomyelitis, he was honorably discharged.  He was told by doctors he would never walk again. Some would have been defeated, but Paul defied the olds. Through his determination and perseverance, he taught himself how to walk. He returned to work at Boeing to provide for his family.  Later when asked how he did it, he would simply say, “I had no choice. I had the responsibility of taking care of my family, and no one was coming to help. I was my help.”

Paul was active in his community in many different capacities.  He was a member of Ebenezer AME Zion church for over 25 years, The Royal Esquire club, Pacific Northwest Searchers, and The Gathering. He volunteered his time in food drives, easter egg hunts, back to school events, little league baseball sponsor, and the annual college scholarship fund to name a few.

Paul was selected to lead the West Seattle Disabled Veterans chapter where he was proud to serve and use his experience and knowledge to help countless veterans understand their eligibility and obtain their benefits.  Serving in this role gave him real purpose and joy.

Paul was a historian. He could recount exact timelines of events. He also had excellent memory recall. He especially enjoyed learning about the Tuskegee Airmen and had an opportunity to meet several members.  He also loved tracing his genealogy. He would always emphasis the importance of understanding family history. He hosted the Blakey, Blakely, and White family reunion in Seattle, where family members came from all over the country to participate. He wrote to the Knight Museum, located in Alliance, Nebraska and requested his maternal grandfather’s records. Through this process, he learned his grandfather, Samuel Shelton, fought in the Spanish America war, in the 25^th infantry, in 1898. Paul was inspired to recreate a portrait of his grandfather as a soldier. Paul was very proud of this portrait. It became a conversational piece for everyone he shared it with.

Paul was known for his love of cooking and without the need to follow a recipe.  Some of his favorites were, gumbo, chicken adobo, chili, and smoked barbecue to include homemade BBQ sauce.  He would remind us that a good cook always tastes their food to ensure the taste is right. He would give cooking directions over the phone, and the results would be perfect. He also loved fishing and would often go with family and friends to catch some of his favorites, salmon, cod and halibut.

Paul was bigger than life and met no stranger.  He would easily enter a room and leave with long lasting friendships. He was very generous and would help anyone in need. He loved his wife and was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Some of his favorite life lessons were shared as a proverbial phrase with a twist. For example, the early bird gets the worm, a closed mouth don’t get fed, when you know you know.  He would laugh and tell us jokingly; he had earned a bachelor’s degree in hard knocks and a master’s degree in trial and error. These phrases were his way of inspiring all who listened.

Paul is proceeded in death by his mother Janice Jones, father Paul Blakey, his wife, Catherine Blakey and his daughter, Alfredia Vinson-Blakey.

Paul leaves to cherish his love, and memories are his children Paul Blakey, Jr., Carolyn Fields (Perry), Sharon Blakey-Rollins (Gene), Angela Compton (Billy), and James Blakey (Ceya). Grandchildren: Cherie, Dwayne, Dion, Chloe, Lorenn, Stephen, Christina, Catherine, Ariel, Alisha, D’Mario, DeJane’, and Tyriq. Great grandchildren: Layla, Lira, Redding, Nazir, Zaia, Saint, and a host of extended relatives and friends who live in Seattle, Minnesota, Chicago, Portland, and California.

Paul’s memorial will be held on November 14^th at Northwest African American Museum located at 2300 Massachusetts St, Seattle, WA 98144. From noon until 3PM.