Doyle F. Blake

Doyle F. Blake, Jr., of Port St. Lucie, Fla., died Sunday, March 4, 2007 at the Martin Memorial Hospital, in Stuart, Fla.

Mr. Blake was born July 7, 1934, in Fort Smith, Ark., to the late Doyle F. and Loretta (Campbell) Blake, Sr. He graduated from Midwest Bible Missionary College. Mr. Blake was of the Protestant faith and had retired in 1991 as an over the road Truck Driver. He enjoyed teaching Sunday School as well as new membership classes in churches he attended over the years. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and gardening and yard work.

He was married to the former Rita Strickland. She survives.

Other survivors include six children, Howard Blake and wife Christine, of Belleville, Ill., Jerry Blake and wife Marilyn, of Norman, Okla., Mary Blake, of Williamsburg, Va., Gail Claunts, of Noble, Okla., Jenna McIntyre and husband Roy, of Chitagong, Bangladesh and John Blake and wife Paula, of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, Shawn Blake, Nikki Blake, Emily Blake, Sarah Blake, Audria Blake, Matt Claunts, Sam McIntyre, Mary Claire McIntyre, Connor Blake and Evan Blake; his sister, Mary Ann Strauss, of Sallisaw, Okla.; and two sister-in-laws, Irene Pool, of Poplar Bluff and Maxine Deckard and husband Marvin, of Fairdealing.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the chapel, with the Rev. Keith Luke officiating. Burial will be at the City Cemetery, in Poplar Bluff.