James Blake

Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, December 31, 2012 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Amarillo with Rev. Nick Gerber officiating. Private interment will be in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. Prayer service will be held at 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 30, 2012 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with Deacon Terry Pevehouse officiating. Private burial in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday at Brooks Chapel, prior to the Prayer Service. Jim Blake was born on January 14, 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri to Chester and Genevieve Horan Blake. He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Rockhurst High School. He was an Eagle Scout and a veteran of the U.S. Airforce. He married Joan Happold on September 12, 1958 in Oklahoma City. When they moved to Canyon, he worked at Canyon Drug and then sold real estate for Jim Christopher. He owned and operated Spudnut Shop in Canyon for many years and after retiring, he worked in sales. He was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Amarillo where he was active in the Men's Club. Jim enjoyed woodworking, fishing, reading and playing Bridge. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mary Pflager and Margie Browne. Survivors include his wife, Joan Blake, of the home; a son, David Blake and wife, Jeni, of Houston; a daughter, Susan Nebhut and husband, Gary, of Amarillo; four grandchildren, Jessica Keevan and husband, Aaron, Bennett and Zoe Howell, all of Houston, and Hanna Nebhut, of Amarillo; two great grandchildren, Marlee and Conner Keevan; one sister, Eleanore Burke, of Kansas City; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle, 200 S. Tyler, Amarillo, TX 79101 or a favorite charity.