Francis Eugene Blake
October 13, 1933 - December 13, 2022
Obituary
Francis “friendly Frank” Blake passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. He was 89 years old. Francis was born in New Albany, Indiana on October 13, 1933, the son of Clifford Blake and Elizabeth (Harmon) Blake.
He was raised in New Albany, Indiana and the family eventually moved to Georgetown, TX when he was a young lad. He would go with his father to deliver milk when they lived in TX. He also had many good friends while he was in TX, and one, Elliott Brogren in particular. They grew up together in junior high and high school in Georgetown, TX, and both had a fondness for Aerospace and flying. The two friends eventually separated ways. Francis, after high school, went into the Army, where he traveled to Africa, Europe-Germany, Austria, and then returning to Texas, he enrolled in The University of Houston, TX, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering. Before he graduated, he met Vera (Looney) Blake at a church function in Houston, TX while she was visiting her cousin Ora Mae. Soon thereafter, he proposed, and married his sweetheart, Vera Lee Looney, on Thanksgiving, November 27, 1958, in Houston, TX.
After Francis graduated college, they moved to Boston, MA, until Boeing picked him up 6 months later, and they landed in Seattle, WA in the early 60’s. Francis worked at Boeing as an Electrical Engineer all his life and retired in 1998. Both Francis and Vera adopted two children, a son, Daniel, and daughter, Janice, in the mid 60’s. Oddly enough, one day Francis ran into his old friend, Elliott Brogren from Georgetown, TX at Boeing in Seattle. They quickly rekindled their friendship and both families began decades of tradition of getting together every Christmas and New Years. All of our extended families were out of state, so it only made sense to celebrate together for the holidays.
Dan and I have fond memories of our father. Daddy taught us to drive at age 12 on the back parking lots of Boeing, and the back country roads of Oregon near Hillsboro. We went on a lot of bike rides down to Lincoln Park and around Alki, and he even took us down to Alki to have breakfast on the beach many Saturdays that he was not working overtime at Boeing. We had family picnics and lots of church functions with family and friends. We went on family vacations to Indiana and Houston, TX, visiting relatives and catching lightening bugs in the summer. We had lots of camping trips to Ike Kinswa State Park, WA, Lake Kachess, Wenatchee, and others.
…………….Frank and his “Short-Shorts”. Frank and his re-engineering everything around the house………..
We picked blackberries in August from the top of the hill in Donovan, and made cobblers and pies, and ate Frosted Flakes with blackberries. We also spent a lot of time with our adopted grandparents, Gana & PaPa Pat in Hillsboro, OR. Walking the railroad tracks and going to Hanks Hardware. He was a great father to two adopted kids, and we are so grateful that he chose us to be the Blake family.
Both Francis and Vera spent dedicated years at Seattle Christian (SCS) and spent a lot of time going to all the high school basketball games, and soccer games and getting to know the many students. When both Francis and Vera finally retired, they spent a lot of time traveling all over Europe, the Middle East, and of course Hawaii. They have many friends, including those they encountered along the way…Wally & Gloria Kirby, Dr. & Mrs. Winkle, Dee Bart, Janine Bauman, and all the neighborhood friends, families, and many church friends.
Francis and Vera are devout Christians and have spent many years going to church, donating and helping others in need. Although Francis was the quiet type, he was devoted to God, his wife, his children, and grandchildren, and as a leader in the church of Christ, he led by example. Quiet example………well sometimes 😊
Loving Father, devoted Husband and Grandfather, he is survived by his son, Daniel and wife Susana Blake, his daughter, Janice Plattner and Son-In-Law, Gary Plattner, his grandson Ken Reynolds, and granddaughters, Jessi Blake, Holly Reynolds, Jenna Blake, Kyana Gonzalez, and great-granddaughter Elliana.
He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. He has arrived in heaven with Jesus, surrounded by his wife of over 50 years, his parents, and his very dear friend Elliott Brogren, who has gone before him.
