Mary Lou Blake

Mary Lou Blake, of Hyattsville, MD passed away on December 29, 2024. She was born on December 20, 1931, near Middleburg, VA in Loudoun County to Stephen and Sarah Williams. She worked for the Iron Workers District Council Mid-Atlantic States in Washington, D.C. from 1958-1972. She then went on to work for the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers International Headquarters from 1972 until her retirement in 1997. She started as the Executive Secretary to the Iron Workers General Secretary and subsequently moved onto the position as Executive Secretary to the Iron Workers General President. She finished off her career at the Iron Workers as the Office Manager and Convention Coordinator. Mary Lou enjoyed a 39-year span at the Iron Workers International Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mary Lou was an original member of the American Rosie the Riveter Association, working hard to support the WWII veterans during wartime. She was a talented seamstress and avid crocheter. She was a longtime fan of the Washington Commanders (formerly the Redskins) where she and her husband Hiram plus her Sister Libby Michael and husband, held season tickets for 45 years. Mary Lou and her husband Hiram plus her Sister Libby Michael and husband, were avid NASCAR fans and attended the Daytona 500 for 25 consecutive races. Mary Lou continued to follow the Washington Commanders and NASCAR along with her nephew Terry Monroe competing with each in their own version of a “Fantasy League”. When she wasn’t watching sports or keeping up with politics on MSNBC, Mary Lou loved to watch Survivor, the Amazing Race and any Hallmark Christmas Movie that was broadcasted. She would read the Washington Post daily from start to finish and enjoyed solving word search puzzles and reading. Her favorite book was The Thorn Birds.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Hiram L. Blake; her daughter, Sherri J. Kellermann; her brothers Thomas Carter and Raymond “Buddy” Williams; and her step-brother George Carter. She is survived by her children, Deborah L. Teta, Michael R. (Patti) Blake, and Christina M. (Marty Pratt) Blake; her son-in-law Robert Kellermann; grandchildren Blake R. Wimberly, Michael Kellermann, Jonathan Kellermann, Sean (Rachel) Blake, Sierra Pratt and Shane Pratt; great-grandchildren Jonathan Kellermann II, Laci Kellermann, Ashlynn Kellermann, Joseph Kellermann, Sienna Blake, and Georgia Blake; sisters Katherine Cuevas and Elizabeth Michael; as well as many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Family and friends are welcome to visit on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 10:00am-12:00pm at Robert E. Evans Funeral Home, 16000 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD, 20715. A funeral service will be held at 12 pm at the funeral home. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The United Methodist Committee on Relief at https://umcmission.org/give-to-umcor/ or to give by mail, make your check payable to Advance GCFA, write the name of the missionary or project and the Advance number on the memo line of the check and send it to:

Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068