John Blakely Scales

Published 2:31 pm Tuesday, August 11, 2020

John Blakely Scales, age 82, of Selma, died August 7, 2020. He was born November 28, 1937 to the late John Augustus Scales and Mary Ella Blakely Scales.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sharon Scales Register and sisters, Mary Furness Barnes, Nettie Grey Scales, and Juanita Rose Scales.

John loved the Selma community and fostered many relationships through his profession and active membership at Church Street United Methodist Church. As a 1956 graduate of Albert G. Parrish High School, he quickly made many life-long friends and called Selma home, his entire life. Following high school, he attended Auburn University, setting the foundation for a long list of future family graduates. Additionally, he graduated from George C. Wallace Community College with an associate’s degree in business management. His illustrious career expanded 40 years with the soft drink giant Coca-Cola, serving as General Manager for the Selma Coca-Cola Bottling Company and later as Human Resources Manager for Montgomery Coca-Cola Bottling Company. After official retirement, he served as an insurance adjuster with Tate, Heinz, Ellis & Sexton, where he continued to foster many friendships from years before.

John was an excellent baker and enjoyed cooking for friends and family. He also loved collecting antiques. Additionally, he took immense pride in his yard, taking great care in the appearance of his lawn and beautiful flowers. As a key community member, he served on countless boards including the Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, Vaughan-Smitherman Museum, and West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center. He also served as President of the Selma Civitan Club, where he played a key role in the planning and coordination of the Dallas County Junior Miss program. John never really quit working, and spent many hours helping his wife, Elna, with her children’s heirloom clothing line, “Linens by Loraine”. He lived out his final days caring for her, the love of his life.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elna Wilson Scales; children, John Blakely (Angie) Scales, Jr., Colleen Scales (Frank) Rutland, Patton Wilson (Sara) Scales and Samuel Kirby (Laurel) Scales, Sr.; eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 10 a.m. at New Live Oak Cemetery with John’s nephew, Reverend Travis W. Barnes officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. Pallbearers will be John Blakely Scales, Jr., Patton Wilson Scales, Samuel Kirby Scales, Sr., Samuel Kirby Scales, Jr., Christopher James Kelley, and Travis W. Barnes. Honorary pallbearers include Joe Sexton, Glen Sexton, Gerald Anderson, Jim Sims, and Dave Rigdon. The service will be live streamed by Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home online via Facebook at http://watchlawrence.live for those who wish to attend remotely.

We invite you to visit www.lawrencebrownservice.com to leave the family condolences online and sign the online Tribute Wall. The family will accept flowers or you may consider making memorial donations to Church Street United Methodist Church, Selma.