Funeral announced for Debbie Blakely, wife of Limestone County sheriff
Updated Dec 14, 2020;
Funeral arrangements were announced today for Debbie McElyea Blakely, a teacher, coach and the wife of Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 1-2 p.m. at the Tanner High School gym. A celebration of life service will begin at 2 p.m. The services were announced this evening by the sheriff’s office. Attendance will be limited to 20 percent capacity because of Alabama Department of Public Health guidance to slow the spread of Covid-19, according to the sheriff’s office.
Debbie Blakely, a member of the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame, died Sunday. She was 70.
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Debbie Blakely, the wife of Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, is remembered for her contagious smile and the impact she made on the community. Blakely died Sunday.
News Courier/File
The late Debbie Blakely married her college sweetheart Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely. They have one son, Andy. Andy and his wife, Dawn, have two sons, Luke Johnson and Ben Blakely.
Courtesy photo
Debbie McElyea Blakely was a lot of things to a lot of people â wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, coach, mentor, friend, past director of Athens Boys & Girls Club, Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, a huge part of the rodeo and much more to many people across the county and beyond.
Debbie Blakely, wife of Limestone County sheriff, dies
Updated Dec 13, 2020;
Funeral arrangements have not been announced. A cause of death was not announced.
A teacher and coach, Debbie Blakely was a member of Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame. According to her HOF biography, Blakely won two state basketball championships at Tanner, and basketball, volleyball and softball tournament titles there and at West Limestone and Ardmore.
The daughter of the late Carl McElyea and Margaret Bridges McElyea, she grew up in the Coxey community, and graduated from Clements High School in 1968. During her senior year there, she played in the first sanctioned volleyball tournament held by the Alabama High School Athletic Association and was named to the All-State team.