Betty was born to Rodney and Mattie Lou Coop in Alamo, Tennessee. After graduating from high school, Betty moved to Memphis to receive secretarial training and began work at the National Bank of Commerce. In 1952 Betty married Fred Blake Jr. They were married nearly 64 years when Fred passed away in 2016.
Prior to settling in Germantown, Tennessee Fred, Betty, and two sons, Kent and Scott, enjoyed living in Florida. Then, in 1968, Fred was transferred by Holiday Inns to Mexico City to open international hotels followed by two years in Brussels, Belgium. They relished their adventures. Betty joked about her attempts at learning Spanish and French, which were always thwarted by her southern accent!
A long-time resident of Germantown, Betty worked at Dogwood Elementary School in the 1970s, volunteered for several years at the Germantown Performing Arts Center, and was an active member of the Germantown Church of Christ for decades. Betty’s talents were many – oil painting, ceramics, fishing, golf, gardening – to name a few.
Betty knew Jesus, and was best known for her sweet nature and servant heart, always cooking someone a meal, visiting someone in need, and faithfully maintaining contact with friends and family.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Harold Coop, her sister, Nell Munn, as well as her husband, Fred. She is survived by her sons, Kent Blake (Jennifer) and Scott Blake, her grandson, Drew Blake (Alise), and granddaughter, Kelly Blake, and three nieces.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue in Memphis. Burial will immediately follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, you may make donations in Betty’s memory to: HopeWorks, www.whyhopeworks.org or Hope For Haiti’s Children, www.hopeforhaitischildren.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralPoplar.com for the Blake family.
