Michael Ray Blake, long time Cushing resident, passed away on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 in his home, at the age of 57.
The son of Lois Marie Blake Reedy and the late James Wesley Blake, Mike was born on November 1, 1952, in Tulare, California and moved to Cushing with his family on his 1st birthday.
He graduated from Cushing High School in 1971 and later graduated from Oklahoma State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Trade and Industrial Education.
Mike was united in marriage to Kathy Gaylene Shoemaker on August 26, 1972 at the First Freewill Baptist Church in Drumright, and to this union two children, Alisa and Amber were born.
In Mike’s younger years he worked for Gibble Oil, Everett’s Auto Supply and Hughes Lumber.
Mike started his teaching career at Indian Meridian in Stillwater where he taught for one year and he then taught Automotive Thechnology at Central Technology Center in Drumright for 27 years. After retiring in May of 2006, he worked for the Cushing Public School system for one year.
He received many rewards for his excellence in the automotive profession, but what he cherished most was that he was able to help his students in life. He was a dearly respected and loved teacher.
Mike regularly attended and was a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Cushing. He loved his church family and wanted those around him to love his Lord as he did.
Mike enjoyed fishing and working on old cars. He enjoyed showing limousine cows with his daughter Alisa while she was enrolled in FFA, and attending football games to watch his daughter Amber on the dance team. The last few years, Mike and Kathy have traveled to numerous southern gospel concerts to hear their son-in-law Jarrod perform. Mike spent many hours with his son-in-law Brad working around the home place. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and sitting around a campfire at the lake visiting with his brother and sister.
Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Kathy Blake of the home; two daughters, Alisa Turner and her husband Brad of Cushing and Amber Vanderslice and her husband Jarrod of Sapulpa; four (plus) grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Blake and Ashley Turner of Cushing and Jaylie Vanderslice of Sapulpa; his mother, Lois Blake Reedy and her husband Gerald of Parkland; one brother, Virgil Blake and his wife Ramona of Tahlequah; one sister, Brenda Williams of Cushing; one brother-in-law, Keith Shoemaker and Diana of Sapulpa; one sister-in-law, Brenda Kelly of Agra; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives, his church family and many loving friends. He was also looking forward to the birth of his second Vanderslice grandchild due in May.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Wesley Blake; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Roy Shoemaker and Doris Wilson Shoemaker, one brother Eddie Blake and one nephew Eric Blake.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, November 23, 2009 at the First Freewill Baptist Church in Cushing, with John Baumert and Jarrod Vanderslice officiating. Burial will follow at the Fairlawn Cemetery.
Serving as casket bearers will be Bobby Cargill, Glenn Williams, Bobby Shoemaker, Danny Hoggatt, Jim Vogt and Ronald Moon. Serving as honorary casket bearers will be Don king and Bud Cook.
Family will meet and greet friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 6 – 8 p.m.
Services are under the direction of the Palmer Marler Funeral Home. You may share your condolences, video and online guestbook with the family at www.palmermarlerfh.com.
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