Dean Wong

Thomas M. "Mel" Bleakney was remembered during a memorial service at the Ballard Elks Lodge Number 827. Bleakney lived to be 103 years old and loved to serve the community through his work as a Ballard Lion and as a dentist.

Bleakney's daughter Pat Okura sat down with the News-Tribune to talk about her father and the memorial attended by many friends and family.

"It was really nice. It was like a memorial party or gathering. "If dad was there, he would have enjoyed it," said Okura.

Bleakney's wife, Mary preceded him in death in 2001. They were married in 1940.

Despite being well over 100 years old, Bleakney was as healthy as a 70-year-old, said Okura. "He was amazing. The doctor would say see you next year, you're good for another year," she recalled.

Throughout out his life and career, Bleakney was known for his love of the outdoors, hard work in his dentistry profession and his community work.

One of his early jobs which helped pay for dental school was working as a "powder monkey," placing sticks of dynamite into trees to clear land for Alderwood Manor, said friend Gary Filion. Bleakney also learned how to milk cows in the city of Meadowdale and was a carpenter in Seattle shipyards. Bleakney studied dentistry at the North Pacific College of Oregon in the 1920s, what is now the University of Oregon.

He saved money on travel by hitching a ride aboard trains between Washington and Oregon.

"He is a storied person. He did not come from a wealthy family. He put himself through dental school," said Filion.

Bleakney set up a dental practice, first on Ballard Avenue near the present Olympic Health Club, moved it to the old Ballard Eagles building and then to 20th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 57th Street.

During the depression years, he often did dental work for free because people were too poor to pay. Children would also receive free work at times.

Filion said Bleakney would sometimes go to a patient's home and give them a shot of whisky before extracting a tooth.

"He did all the dental work in the family. Kept everyone in good dental health. He had a passion for dentistry, he loved what he did," said Okura.

In 1986, he retired from dentistry, but still found time to borrow a dentist chair from old colleagues to fix the teeth of old friends.

In 1938, Bleakney purchased four prime plots of land in Blue Ridge with a view of Puget Sound and built a home. In later years, he sold the other plots to friends who he knew would make good neighbors.

He worked as the lead carpenter and received help from his stepfather in building his house. Patients who owed him money for dental service also joined in on the project.

Bleakney was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. He went on many trips to hunt game in Africa, accompanied by Mary, who went along for the travel experience but not on the hunt itself.

"He took a aircraft trip in a Cessna from Florida to Cuba, that was before Castro," said Filion.

Well into in 90s, Bleakney still went to Alaska to fish for salmon.

"He was a sportsman, a big game hunter all around the world. He fished like crazy," said Ballard Lion Ted Peterson.

Bleakney was a member of the local Elks Club, but it was the Ballard Lions, where he made a big impact.

"He was one of the original members. His best friends all joined," said Okura.

The Northwest Lions Eye Bank was his pet project. He spent many hours during fundraising events like the Lions White Crane Day standing out in the cold soliciting donations from the public.

He also liked delivering turkeys to needy people on Thanksgiving. He would load up his camper and be out all day.

"He was a guy who really believed in serving people. He was the best recruiter we (the Lions) ever had. All through his life he had and attitude of service," said Peterson.

Bleakney was a huge fan of the University of Washington football and basketball teams. "He was one of the original (football) season ticket holders. He went to every game," said Okura.

When he turned 100, the university gave him free season tickets and a signed football.

Filion said Bleakney amassed a fortune by saving his money. He was frugal because he went through the depression.

He drove a 20-year-old Honda until he finally donated it to charity. "He could have bought any car he wanted," said Filion.

"To him everything was worth caring for and keeping nice," said Okura.

With both her parents now gone, Okura is cleaning out the family home and reliving the old memories. She plans to live there.

In front of her on this day are pictures from her father's fishing expeditions, hunting trips, vacations aboard their boat, wedding pictures and photographs of Bleakney as a five-year-old, dressed in his finest Sunday clothes for a photo session.

"He kept making friends. He was constantly making new friends. He had at least three generations of friends," said Okura.