Shirley M Blake

Shirley M. Blake, a longtime resident of Sanford, Florida, passed away June 16, 2016 at age 87 at the Adventist Care Center. Shirley was born Nov.14, 1928 in Kingsville, Texas and lived most of her young life there. She was a modern and jazz dancer and was a true “Yellow Rose of Texas”. At King High School she became lifelong friends with 16 girls who became the “Petunias” having reunions throughout their lives. Shirley graduated from Texas A & M with a degree in business, worked as a teacher and then became an executive assistant at Shell Oil in Dallas, Texas. There in 1957 she met and married her husband, Gilbert S. Blake, a World War II decorated pilot and hero who was a career Navy man. Along with him came three daughters, whom she made her own.

Shirley became a wonderful Navy wife moving often, cooking, entertaining and making a home filled with music. The Blakes had been stationed at the Navy base in Sanford previously and retired here permanently in 1969 and made their home on Lake Markham. Shirley was also a skilled tailor and seamstress making clothes and prom dresses for her daughters and Halloween costumes for 2 generations. In her elder years, she continued to embroider, crochet, knit and cross-stitch for the family and for charity. In Sanford she was a member of the Ixora garden club, the golf team and a bridge group for many years. She and Gib sang in the Presbyterian choir and they did much charitable work in the Sanford community, particularly the Central Florida Zoo and their church. (They brought Jack Hanna to Sanford to help develop the zoo.)

Shirley is predeceased by her husband, Gib Blake who died Oct. 28, 2005 in Sanford and by her brother, Malcolm McLoud and his wife, Julia.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memory three daughters- Alison Blake Ramsey of St. Augustine, FL, Barbara “Robbie” Blake of Bronson, FL,and Carrie and Max Norgart of St. Augustine, FL, seven grandchildren -Tobias Pardue, Kristin Ramsey, Melissa Hargrove, Nathan Pardue, Brad Norgart, Andy Norgart Ruth Pardue-Craft and 13 great-grandchildren. Also she leaves her niece, Shirley Drusilla and Joe Stancampiano, their twin daughters, Julia and Joanna and great-grandniece, Ella.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 1 p.m. at Baldwin-Fairchild-Oaklawn Chapel, 5000 County Road 46A, Sanford, Florida.32771 with burial to follow in Oaklawn Park Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to the chapel address or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens. You may make out the check to Central Florida Zoo and send to P.O. Box 470309, Lake Monroe, FL 32747.