Obituaries

Michael E. Blakely

Photo of Michael E. Blakely
MICHAEL E. BLAKELY, 67, of Little Rock, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2018. He was born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Richard J. and Hazel M. Callaway Blakely. In 1983, he married Nancy Johnson in Kansas City, Mo. Michael was the Director of the Little Rock Zoo for 17 years. Next to family and friends, Mike's greatest love was animals, from snakes to elephants. He started his zoological career as a teenager at the Portland Oregon Zoo, moving to the Oklahoma City Zoo. He was the director of Wildlife Safari in Roseburg, Ore., and finally Director of the Little Rock Zoo in 1999. Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Hazel Blakely. He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Nancy Johnson Blakely, one son; Thomas C Blakely of Denver, Colo., one daughter; Elizabeth C. Blakely of Little Rock and one grandson; Jackson Thurig and one brother; Richard Blakely of Palo Alto, Calif. Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Pkwy., Little Rock, Ark., 72211, Reverend Claire Caldwell officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The World Wildlife Fund, P.O. Box 97180, Washington, D.C., 20090. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

Published December 31, 2017

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