Kate’s Notes:
    Clara Gilliland Blakley was born to William E Gilliland (1848 - 1929) and
Dicie (Windham) Gilliland (1856 - 1934), the former born in Washington County, Texas and who founded of the Baird Star newspaper, which became a family enterprise for many decades. 
    For more on this pioneering Gilliland family of Baird, please refer to the following links:
http://files.usgwarchives.org/tx/callahan/obits/1944/baird-star.txt
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~clearcreek/windham_john-darby.html
http://www.frontiertimesmagazine.com/0745.html
Family gravesites and some genealogical notes: 
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32829416

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Abilene Reporter News 
Abilene, Texas
April 9, 1939

Pioneer Woman
Of Baird Dies

    BAIRD,  April 9 -- (Spl) -- Mrs. L. A. Blakley, who had lived in Callahan county since she was two years old, died today at her farm home several miles south of Baird.
    Mrs. Blakley, who had been returned to her home Tuesday from the Baird hospital, succumbed to a heart ailment. She was 58 years old.
    She was a daughter of the late W. E. Gilliland, frontier editor, and sister of Eliza Gilliland, present publisher of the Baird Star.
    Funeral services will be held at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the home of Eliza Gilliland. The rites will be conducted by the Rev. Royse Gilliland, Baptist minister and a cousin of Mrs. Blakley, and by the Rev. Hamilton Wright, pastor of the First Methodist church here. Burial will be in the family plot in Ross cemetery.
    Mrs. Blakley was the former Clara Gilliland, fourth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Gilliland. She was born November 25, 1880 at the Byrd Store community in Brown county and was brought to Callahan county in December, 1882, with her parents.
    She became the bride of L. A. Blakley* here July 28, 1907. The couple had lived at their farm home near the [Bayou] community the past 22 years.
    Survivors are her husband, one son, three daughters, one brother and eight sisters. The son is Robert L. Blakley and the daughters are Nina Manche Blakley, Grace Blakley and Betty Blakley. Brothers and sisters are Haynie Gilliland, mechanical superintendent for the Baird Star; Eliza Gilliland; Miss John Gilliland,** Baird postmistress; Eliska Gilliland, a postoffice employee here; and Mrs. J. R. Price of Van Horn, Mrs. Amy Walker of Balmorhea, Mrs. Don Carter of Lamesa and Mrs. Larmer Henry and Mrs. Robert L. Estes, both of Baird.

-- transcription by Kate Maynard, 2010

*Lowrey A. Blakley (1880 - 1969)
** The name “John Gilliland” has confused a number of researchers but Johnnie Gilliland was in fact a daughter of William and Dicie. Her name appeared as both Johnnie and John in the census records.