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A funeral service was held Wednesday, April 15, for former Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville President Arvis Blakley. He died Saturday, April 11, 2026, at his Huntsville home, surrounded by his family.
Mr. Blakley was a career educator who spent more than 30 years as president of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville, which was then called Tennessee Technology Center Oneida/Huntsville.
Born Arvis Glynn Blakley in Somerset, Ky., on Dec. 30, 1929, he was the son of John Hamilton Blakley and Edith Pearl Stonecipher. He joined the U.S. Air Force straight out of high school and was a veteran of the Korean War.
He married Frankie June Strunk, who was also a career educator. She retired as principal of Huntsville Middle School.
After graduating from Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Mr. Blakley began his teaching career at a one-room schoolhouse in the Cherry Fork community of Scott County. For more than 50 years, he served in both the Scott County School System and the Oneida Special School District as a science teacher, principal, and materials coordinator.
It was in the 1970s that Mr. Blakley was appointed president of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville. He oversaw the building of the school's new campus in Huntsville, which is named the Arvis G. Blakley Campus in his honor.
Mr. Blakley's tenure at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville left an indelible impact on the school. It was still in its infancy as a post-secondary education institution upon his arrival, and he oversaw its growth and transformation into a community service role. Several programs were added during his tenure that are still being offered today, including Automotive Technology in 1976, Building Construction Technology in 1976, and Computer Information Technology in 1999.
Mr. Blakley is survived by his children: John Blakley and wife Shelia, Mark Blakley and wife Paula, Leesa Ellis and husband Spencer, and Joe Blakley, along with grandchildren Amanda Kirk and husband Eric, Andrew Blakley and husband Rachael, Arvis Gary Blakley and wife Sydney, Isaac Blakley and wife Syrena, Eric Blakley and wife Emily, Ben Blakley, Will Blakley and wife Caley, Matthew Blakley, Frankie Ellis, and Spence Ellis. He also has nine great-grandchildren.