Esther R. Blake

Esther R. (Owens) Blake, 70, Gladstone, MO, died Thursday, July 31, 2014, at KU Medical Center. Born in St. Joseph, MO, on November 27, 1943, Mrs. Blake has lived in St. Joseph; Turner, KS; Bonner Springs, KS; Elwood, KS; Wathena, KS; Inman, KS; and Gladstone, MO.

On May 13, 1961, she married Dwight Patrick (Pat) Blake in St. Joseph, MO.

Mrs. Blake was preceded in death by her parents, John and Bertha (Ketchum) Owens and a brother John Owens. She is survived by her husband, Pat Blake; son, Kevin Blake and his wife, Susan; daughter, Jeanette Blake Simpson; and son, Robert Blake and his wife, Carolyn. She has four surviving brothers, Oliver Owens, George Owens, Joe Owens, and Richard Owens, all living in St. Joseph. Her grandchildren are Dylan Blake, Megan Blake, Blake Simpson, Maci Grice, Chris Morgan, Nasser Barouqa, and Natasha Barouqa. Great grandchildren are Olivia Kerr, D.J. O' Dell, Sebastian Delameter, and Max Morgan.

Esther worked lovingly and tirelessly from the age of 13 to the age of 62 at various nursing homes. She recently entered the Catholic Church after a lifetime of quiet spirituality. She is remembered by all who knew her as a selfless and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.

Visitation is Wednesday, August 6, 2014, 9-10AM at St. Gabriel's Parish, 4737 N. Cleveland Ave., Gladstone, MO. The funeral Mass will be at 10 AM. The burial is at White Chapel Memorial Gardens.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband too, praises her..." Proverbs 31:28