In Loving Memory

Carol Blake

2/10/1927 — 7/10/2017

Bunker Family Funerals

A Life Remembered

Obituary

Carol Cluff Blake was born February 10, 1927 to Leo and Opal Cluff in the little town of Pima, Arizona—right across the street from her future husband, Kent Anderson Blake. Carol married Kent on January 30, 1946 in the Mesa Arizona temple three days after he returned from serving in the Air Force during WWII. They both attended the University of Arizona. Carol graduated with distinction with a degree in Home Economics. She taught junior high for a couple of years then devoted her life to nurturing and loving her husband and their six children. Carol and Kent raised their family in Phoenix and Mesa and retired in Gilbert in 1996.

Carol was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many callings and particularly loved being a guide patrol leader (scouting), being a family history consultant, and serving a senior mission with Kent in Nauvoo. Carol went above and beyond in everything she did. She was passionate about physical activity. She loved fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, playing tennis, and mowing the lawn. She continued many of these activities into her late 70’s.

After a feisty decline, Carol passed away peacefully in her home in Gilbert, Arizona on July 10, 2017. Carol was proceeded in death by her parents Leo and Opal Cluff, her brothers Darell and Doyle Cluff, and a daughter-in-law, Jeannie Reynolds Blake. She is survived by her sweetheart and husband of 71 years, Kent, and their six children: Ronald (Marcia) Blake, Michael (Alison) Blake, Tracy Blake, Melinda (Gordon) Jennings, Amy (Steve) Hardison, Jeni (Dick) Jones, 19 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held Monday, July 17, 2017 from 6-8 PM, at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, Arizona. Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 10 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM, at the LDS Lakeside Ward, 1005 N. Voyager Drive, Gilbert, Arizona.

Service Details

Gatherings in remembrance

Service

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 · 10:00 AM

Messages of Love

From family and friends

Ronald Blake

Hi Tom, please give our best to your family. Thank you for your comments. Dad’s condition had a quick downturn and he passed on Sun July 16. We proceeded with a double funeral on Tues July 18. There were some people that arrived for what they thought was a funeral for my mom and found out that there was going to also be a funeral for my Dad. We found out that we definitely made the right choice having the double funeral. Many of our family (mostly the Cluffs) and my parents’ old friends attended the funeral. Having separate funerals one week apart would not have worked. It was very nice to see family and my parents’ old friends that we hadn’t seen for years. The process also brought my siblings closer together. It was very nice time together which helped the healing process. After being married for 71 years and knowing each other since they were children, Mom and Dad both wanted to pass at the same time. They got their wish. Ron

Tom Blake

Kent, Ron, Michael, Tracy, Melinda, Amy, Jenny, and all Carol’s grandkids, we are sorry for Carol’s passing and your loss. We (Tom, Randy, and Chuck Blake) have been blessed to have Carol and Kent and all of you in our lives. We think back to happy memories with your family of picnics in the desert and at your house in Phoenix and family reunions as well as times at the Pinetop Cabin. Kent sent me a copy of his Sentimental Journey autobiography, which I enjoyed and am grateful to have. We understand Kent is not doing well and may pass. We hope Kent recovers. If Kent passes, please let us know. Tom, Randy, and Chuck Blake

Steve Hardison

Carol, you are the best mother-in-law I could have ever imagined. You are loved by so many. Your impact is massive. Blessings to all those that are surely loving and missing you. I am one of them. Sincerely, “What’s His Name.” aka SFH

Tiffany Jennings

Sure love this beautiful grandma I inherited through marriage! She was always so kind, welcoming, fun, loving and talented. Blessed for the better to have had her influence in my life.

Ronald Blake

Hi Paul, I am Kent and Carol’s oldest son. I am also a lawyer, but I am now retired. Thank you for your comments. My parents repeatedly said that they had a wonderful life,and they believed that completely. Kent passed away on Sun July 16 and the funeral was already scheduled for Carol on July 18. We decided it was best to have a double funeral for them because they spent their entire lives together and it would not have worked to have another funeral for Kent shortly after Carol’s funeral. It did surprise some people who showed up and found out that Kent had passed and it was also his funeral. This made it more difficult to let people know about Kent’s funeral, and we are sorry that we were unable to do a better job of getting the work out for the date and time of the funeral. Ronald Blake

Paul Mooney

Please accept my sincerest condolences on the passing of a wonderful woman, Carol Blake. I also heard today that Kent passed shortly after Carol did, which while tragic in its own way, is probably the way the two of them would have wanted it to happen. I was Kent’s law partner at Fennemore Craig, in Phoenix for about 25 years before he retired from practicing law. I left the firm some time thereafter, but I have tried to stay in touch with many of my former colleagues. Kent and Carol were two of the happiest people I’ve ever known, and I’m sure they will be sorely missed by their large, extended family. I’m just sorry that I didn’t hear about this until after the services were held, because I would very much have liked to be there to celebrate their lives.

Nadia

To the Blake family, I’m very sorry for your loss. It’s my hope that you can draw comfort and strength from Jehovah God’s promises in the Bible. Revelation 21:4 and John 5:28,29 show that soon there will be no more sickness, or death, and we can see the loved ones we have lost in death again. May these thoughts bring you hope as you cherish the memories of your loved ones.

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