Carter Blakely

On Thursday, September 3, 1942 Elmo Blakely and Vernita Lee Blakely welcomed their only child into the world in Houston, Texas. They agreed to name him Carter Vernal after his grandfather on his father’s side of the family. However, until today, he was always affectionately referred to as “Butch”. Being an only child, he was truly adored. His mom said that she did not realize how much he loved being outdoors taking care of animals and working on a farm with her father in Midway, Texas. She said that she loved keeping him spotless, but he enjoyed getting dirty and learning how to do chores on a farm. Butch was born an ‘outdoors’ person.

At an early age he was baptized into Christ at Fifth Ward Church of Christ. He later became a member of Kashmere Gardens Church of Christ. At the time of his demise, Butch was a faithful member of Trinity Gardens Church of Christ.

Upon completing elementary, Junior high and several years of high school in the Houston Independent School District, he left Houston to stay with his grandparents in Midway, Texas. This move allowed him to participate in the Future Farmers of America Organization as well as the opportunity to follow his grandfather around on the farm. Butch was good at killing two birds with one stone; thus, he finished high school in which his grandfather was the principal in 1962 within the Madison County School District.

Butch met his high school sweetheart, Diane Manning, in a French class at Kashmere Gardens Junior Senior High School. He and Diane were happily married and shared many activities for 57 years 10 months 18 days three and one half hours. To this union one son was born, whom they named Eric Keith Blakely.

After several years of working and learning on-the-job-skills at Exxon Corporation and Horton and Horton Concrete Company, Butch expressed an interest and desire to start his own business with his wife. He and Diane cleaned office buildings at night to make his quest for entrepreneurship become a reality. Thus, C. Blakely’s Trucking Company was started and later the company was expanded to include heavy equipment as well.

Butch had many hobbies. He enjoyed deer hunting and he participated in tie down and break-away calf roping at rodeos. His horse was named Buddy. Everyone wanted a Buddy because of how he could put you right on the calf’s tail and how he could run barrels during barrel racing. Another thrilling and exciting time for Butch, his wife and son was when the North Side Riding and roping Club participated in trail rides and in the Houston Livestock Parade in Downtown Houston every year.

Butch not only owned horses that he used in rodeos, but he owned race horses. Often, his horses, that he so carefully cared for, won races at Delta Downs, Sam Houston Race Track and Ratama Park Race Track.

Butch and his wife started purchasing property in Midway in the early 60’s and by 1972 were the owners of over 125 acres. Butch was thrilled because his lifelong dream was to own enough acres to raise cattle. For many years he grew his own pastures of hay. Then he cut, raked and baled the cuttings of hay for his animals. He began this project long before he built a house on the property. After retirement, he built his ranch house and named it ‘Half Circle E Ranch’. He enjoyed hosting fish fries and barbeques for his family and friends.

Butch had one more large project that he truly wanted to complete for two of his nephews: namely, James and Jas Prince. However, July 18, 2020, at 10:45 P.M., he departed this life peacefully at his home with his devoted wife by his side and went to rest with the Lord.

Butch was preceded in death by his mother, father, and son Eric Keith Blakely. He leaves to cherish his memory: A loving wife, Diane; two grandsons, Eric Keith and Christopher Tre’vaun (Keichelle); two great grandsons, Christopher Tre’vaun II, Korbin Dallas; a special son: Anthony Pierre; godsister, Sharon; goddaughter, Amanda; two godsons: Johnny and Troy; two brother-in-laws, Larry Manning and Jerry Johnson, five sister-in-laws: Pat, Linda, Janice, Joyce and Gloria; three aunts: Faye, Willie and Essie; and a host of nieces, great nieces, great great nieces, nephews, great nephews, great great nephews, and a host of cousins, family and many friends.