Kenneth Ken Alan Blakley

Kenneth Alan Blakley, 63, of Kingsport, passed away on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville after complication with an organ transplant.

Born in Kingsport where he has resided all of his life, Ken was a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School and attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was a former owner/operator of Kingsport Tile and Linoleum and a local contractor/builder. Ken's passion was drag racing and he was part of the teams that won the prestigious U.S. Nationals, Gator Nationals and finished second in the NARA World Funny Car Points.

Ken was preceded in death by his son Christopher Scott Blakley and his parents Simon and Beulah Blakley.

Survivors include his son: Donovan Todd Blakley of Kingsport, his aunts and uncles: Harold Carmack and wife Kathy, Ancel Carmack, Cathalene Corley and several cousins.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at Hamlett-Dobson, Kingsport. Services will begin at 7:00 p.m. with Richard Isaacs officiating.

Graveside service will be held on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at East Lawn Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Pete Harman, Terry Bledsoe, Craig Haynes, Lynn Crawford, Nathan Aulds, and Stacy Carter; honorary pallbearers are Burt Carter, Dr. Paul Singh, and Jerry Gulley.

Special thanks to Dr. Paul Singh, Dr. Michael Porayko, Pete Hartman, Matt Bumbalogh, the Vanderbilt Transplant Team, and the Surgical ICU Team at Vanderbilt Medical Center for going above and beyond for the care that they provided for Ken.

In lieu of flowers, at Ken's request, memorial gifts may be made to Todd Blakley to help with all expenses.