Ernest Lee Blackley

Ernest Lee Blackley, age 82, of Clayton, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023. Born in Wake County on October 6, 1940, he was the son of the late Theodore R. and Mattie Hicks Blackley. He is survived by wife of 64 years, Joyce Lee Blackley; his daughter, Linda Edwards and husband, Philip; a son, Michael Blackley and wife, Ronda; brothers, Charles Blackley of Zebulon, Douglas Eugene Blackley and wife, Linda of Clayton; grandchildren, Ashley Lane and husband, Jordan of Clayton, Brooke Edwards of Clayton, Blake Edwards of Raleigh, Austin Blackley of Clayton, Drew Edwards and wife, Sarah of Garner; great grandchild, Finnlie Lane of Clayton; step grandchild, Garrett Norris and wife, Dennielle of Four Oaks; step great grandchildren, Ava Norris and Lovey-Jean Norris; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Ernest grew up in Zebulon and was the son of farmers. He and his siblings worked hard to help the family grow their crops. They were a close and loving family, but the Blackley boys were also mischievous. When they became adults, he and his brothers loved to get together and tell stories about all the pranks they pulled on their daddy when they were teenagers.

Joyce and Ernest met in 1958 when Ernest went with his cousin to visit the “Lee boys”. She was immediately impressed by his sparkling blue eyes and the fact that he had a car. They married in 1959. Joyce says she told him she wanted a girl and a boy. A year later, their daughter Linda was born and four years later, their son Mike was born. He always tried to make her happy and she did the same for him. They had a wonderful marriage. It was the sweetest love story.

Ernest was always the family repairman. He had a knack for figuring out how machinery worked, even as a boy. He told his children that he built a lawnmower when he was still a young boy. As an adult, the children in the neighborhood would go see Uncle Ernest to put the chain back on their bikes and he was happy to do it. He never called a serviceman to make repairs for anything that broke around the house or to work on the cars. He fixed it himself.

Ernest worked his entire career at Jesse Jones Sausage Co. which later became Goodmark Foods. He retired after 38 years of dedicated service and started his second career working full time with his wife at Blackley’s Printing and Sign Shop.

He and his wife, Joyce, started the family business Blackley’s Printing and Sign Shop in 1977 in their home which moved to its current location on Main Street in Clayton in 1987. They were a great team and supported each other in every endeavor. After retirement, you could find him at the “shop” greeting customers or around town making deliveries.

He and Joyce helped start what has become the Clayton Christmas Village and Tree Lighting in 1990 and he provided the first Christmas tree for the event. A cedar tree that Ernest cut down himself from behind their business on Main Street. He was a member of Clayton Rotary Club for over 44 years and received the Paul Harris Fellow award for his dedicated service. He was also a member of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Clayton for 48 years.

Along with his parents, he is also preceded in death by sisters, Mozelle Clark and Lucy Baker; brothers, Robert Blackley and Carlton Blackley.

A funeral service celebrating his life will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 11:00am at the First Baptist Church of Clayton, 411 N Fayetteville St, Clayton. The interment will follow the services at Pinecrest Memorial Park, Clayton. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at McLaurin Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com for the Blackley family.